Neil Critchley clocks Hearts 'red flag' as he demands players don't blow it in Jambos' 100th Euro tie
Neil Critchley has demanded his Hearts players pick themselves off the floor and ensure they don’t blow a golden opportunity in the club’s 100th European tie.
Victory over Moldovan side Petrocub at Tynecastle on Thursday night will secure a first knockout phase spot for the Jambos since 1989. Hearts are rock bottom of the Premiership following Sunday’s dismal defeat to 10-man Kilmarnock but Critchley insists the job is NOT bigger than he expected. And he reckons progress in Europe can help his stars lift themselves out of the doldrums domestically too.
He said: “I said that to the players when we got back together after the game against Kilmarnock - how often do you get opportunities like this in your career? They go by so quickly. Craig Gordon I'm sure is thinking it wasn't long ago since he was 18 and about to start on his career. It goes by in a flash and you can't miss these opportunities.
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“It's a great chance for us at home to get the points on the board that we need to progress. And then it gives us all something to look forward to. I think it will give everyone a lift, give us a boost going into what is an important period of games for us in the league.
“Obviously, we have the opportunity to progress in a European competition, we want to get into the latter stages and progress. We have an opportunity to do that. It's in our hands. We were going through all the possible permutations and all kinds of scenarios yesterday and we gave up after about five minutes and just thought, let's just concentrate on doing our best to win the game. And if we do that, then we can put that to rest for a few months and look to then improve our domestic form, because we've got a really important period coming up with lots of games in a short period of time.
"Is the job bigger than I anticipated? No, not really. I know this is a big job, big club, big expectations. That was one of the attractions and reasons for coming here. I was ready for that challenge.
“Obviously, when a manager comes into the club with a situation that was there at the time, then obviously things aren't right. So, you get a time to assess, make your own observations. I think I've been here now long enough to start to make assessments of certain things and then that's how you formulate your plan to move forward.”
Petrocub have already been eliminated from the competition having taken just one point from five games but Critchley is not expecting the minnows to roll over. Lawrence Shankland returns from suspension to lead the line.
And the boss said: “You can obviously look at their position and look at the points that they've got and underestimate them. We certainly won't be doing that. There's no gimme's in European football. They're there for a reason. And if you look at their recent results, they've been very close games, very tight games. So we're just expecting to turn up and win and roll them over. Then it won't happen.
“That's not going to happen like that. You have to earn everything that you get on the pitch. And we'll have to enforce the way that we want to play onto them. And we have to make sure our cause is greater than theirs. And that has to be reflected on the pitch. You want a quick start, obviously, to get the crowd, get everybody on board. When we get the supporters here with us, then this is a very powerful place.
“It's a very difficult place for teams to come to and we have to make it uncomfortable Thursday night. But that starts with us. That starts with how we play. If we want to get energy from the stands, then we have to play with energy. And it's a two-way thing. But we've had a great connection here in our home games because of the way we've played.
“We've been applauded off the pitch here when we've been beaten. And that's because the Hearts fans recognise hard work, humility, commitment. And until Sunday, we've shown that. So, we have a chance to make sure we're back to who we want to be.”
Hearts have won just one of their last eight games now and Critchley admits Sunday’s defeat to Killie was a red flag. But he insists he can see enough within this squad to be confident of turning things around. He said: “Definitely. I've seen more than enough in my time here with the performances that we've had. If we keep producing that level of performance prior to Sunday, then I'm more than confident we'll get points on the board and we'll move forward.
“But that was a red flag on Sunday. And if we produce more performances similar to that level, then the inevitable will happen. But that was one game. Even though it was very painful, hurtful, again, you have to put it into perspective.
“I have to think like a coach and how do I help the players? Sometimes it is very, very tough. You have to try to remove your emotion as much as possible and concentrate on the process. How do we improve and what do we get better at? That will always be my job, to help the players to improve and to get better.”
