Heart of Midlothian boss Wouter Vrancken calls for 'magical night' in Champions League comeback bid
Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken has set his sights on a 'magical and historical night' as his side prepares for the second leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie against Sturm Graz. The Edinburgh club faces a daunting 4-0 deficit from the first leg in Austria, but Vrancken remains optimistic about his team's chances.
What did Vrancken say about the challenge ahead?
Vrancken acknowledged the difficulty of overturning a four-goal deficit but emphasized the importance of belief and performance. 'It's difficult when you are four goals behind, but we have to go for a magical and historical night,' he said. 'In football, you never know what's going to happen, so we have to believe.' The Heart of Midlothian boss stressed the need for his team to be 'pretty perfect, especially in efficiency' and 'really clinical in both boxes.'
How has the team prepared for the second leg?
Vrancken highlighted the value of the training sessions between the two legs, stating that 'every moment and every session to improve' has been crucial. He also praised the support of the fans, both those who traveled to Austria and those who will be at Tynecastle on Tuesday night. 'I have no doubt the fans are going to support us,' he said, adding that the supporters who traveled to Austria showed 'great support, also considering the result.'
What are the key tactical points for Heart of Midlothian?
The Heart of Midlothian boss emphasized the need for his team to 'do better in both boxes' and to 'believe in a special night.' He also noted the importance of taking confidence from the performance in the first leg, while acknowledging areas for improvement defensively. Vrancken said, 'You have to point out the things they didn't do well enough defensively.'
Team news ahead of the second leg
Vrancken confirmed that Christian Borchgrevink is the only doubt for the game, with the rest of the squad available for selection. The Heart of Midlothian boss will be looking for his team to 'go all in and hope for the first goal, then we'll see.'
