London Hearts Supporters Club

Report Index--> 2006-07--> All for 20060726
<-Page <-Team Wed 26 Jul 2006 Hearts 3 NK Siroki Brijeg 0 Team-> Page->
<-Srce <-Type Daily Record ------ Report Type-> Srce->
Valdas Ivanauskas <-auth Hugh Keevins auth-> Espen Berntsen
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78 of 080 Branimir Anic og 53 ;Ibrahim Tall 78 ;Roman Bednar 84 E H

BRING ON BIG GUNS SAYS NEIL


JAMBOS IN EUROPE...
By Hugh Keevins

HEARTS' match programme for Wednesday's game against Siroki Brijeg referred to the possibility of qualifying for the Promised Land.

Admittedly, it was in an advert flogging hospitality boxes at Murrayfield for £3500 plus VAT for the next home tie should they go through.

But there could be a huge amount of money on offer to the club if the Champions League draw is kind to Hearts when it's made in Switzerland this morning.

And Neil McCann admits he can't help but get excited at the thought of who they could face from a glittering array of Europe's aristocrats that includes Arsenal, Liverpool, Ajax, AC Milan and Valencia.

The winger said: "There are English Premiership clubs in the draw and then there's a possibility you could meet Spanish giants Valencia or even have a trip to Italy to face AC Milan. It's mouthwatering stuff."

McCann refuses to agree with Soroki coach Ivica Barbaric the tie is over with Hearts having a three-goal lead to take with them to Mostar next week.

McCann said: "We do have to be professional and put the next round, whoever it's against, out of our minds, but I have to admit we'll have an eye on the draw from Nyon. What we have to do now is go to Bosnia and shut up shop to close the tie out." Wednesday's game gave McCann only his second start since his return to Hearts from Southampton in January. He damaged knee ligaments on his debut at Kilmarnock.

And his lack of match fitness meant there was a question mark over whether boss Valdas Ivanauskas would risk him in the Euro tie.

McCann said: "I've only had a few training sessions but Valdas showed great confidence in me and hopefully I can repay that over the coming weeks.

"Playing in the game was a magical feeling for me even though it's obviously going to take me a bit of time to work on my final ball. I had a couple of chances early on and squandered a couple of headers as well but the sharpness will come back because I'm working hard on it."

McCann was also involved in a controversial incident in the first half inside his own penalty box.

He said: "I will totally deny everything about any alleged handball and the possibility of a penalty being awarded against us.

"It was a fantastic result for us because I think the fans expected the game to be easier than it turned out to be. European games at this level are never easy, as Celtic found out to their cost in Bratislava last year.

"It was important to win and not concede anything and that's what we did. A three-goal cushion makes the journey over there a lot more comfortable but it's never done until it's done."



Taken from the Daily Record


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