Tynecastle pressure isn't too much to bear for Hearts coach Malofeev

QUOTING the words of Harold MacMillan would hardly be considered the normal practice of a manager in the Scottish Premierleague. But then again, Eduard Malofeev has already proved in his short reign at Hearts that he is no normal coach.

When asked yesterday how he had adapted to life as Hearts' acting head coach since he began deputising for the sick Valdas Ivanauskas 13 days ago, 64-year-old Malofeev proceeded to recall a famous MacMillan phrase from his first meeting with Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1959.

"I feel like a lion who discovers a bear's hug doesn't break his bones," said the colourful Russian through his interpreter. It was his way of saying things have gone relatively smoothly at Riccarton thus far in his brief tenure, with last week's statement of unrest by captain Steven Pressley, pictured below, being the obvious exception.

Malofeev has attempted to realign some wayward factions within the Hearts dressing-room, and is utilising tried-and-trusted methods from his days as a coach in the Soviet Union to implement discipline. His demeanour may be slightly more reposed than that of Ivanauskas, except when barking eccentricities at the media, but that should not be mistaken for a lack of passion.

"I am not young any more," said Malofeev. "That is why I like order, I like discipline, and I think order always rises to the top. I know football very well because I have been coach of national teams and other top clubs. I know what this team needs. I know what to do to bring order, so that the players are striving for top class. There are lots of ideas I am bringing to the club which I think are necessary.

"The team needs to be united. There should be no separations between anybody. We need to go the same way all together. There is even a moral issue here and we need to lift the fitness levels of the team. We need to raise discipline in all areas.

"When the players come to training they need to pay attention to a lot of things. But sometimes that doesn't happen and they become absent-minded.

"I need to make them more attentive and improve the responsibility of the players on the pitch."

As Ivanauskas declared himself not yet ready to return to the pressurised environment of football club management, the warm-hearted Malofeev was only too willing extended his hand in comfort to the exiled Lithuanian.

Ivanauskas is suffering from stress in his homeland, an issue which Malofeev coach can fully appreciate having had his own health concerns alleviated earlier this year.

The Russian continued: "God takes care of me and he gives me a good life.

"What happened in Kaunas [when he had to take leave from his job due to ill-health] was just one of my tactical steps. I am very experienced in this kind of thing. I am of an age that I must take care of myself very carefully.

"I think of Valdas as my child. My daughters are ages with Valdas and I respect him and love him. I don't know what is going to happen but I wish Valdas good luck. I have fatherly feelings for him."

Pressley will lead Hearts out at Celtic Park this afternoon intent on taking something from a game he considers to be of the "must-not-lose" variety. The lack of values and discipline within the camp that he alluded to last week are in the process of being addressed, and the captain has been encouraged by the response from inside the club.

"Sometimes when issues are addressed it galvanises a club and unites people," explained Pressley. "I've made the statement and hopefully in time these issues will be addressed. It's not a case of making it and then just forgetting about it, but we have to move forward now.

"There has been a good spirit about the place this week. I made the statement for the reasons I believe are correct and to benefit the club.

"Whether the supporters backed us or not was irrelevant. If there aren't proper values in place then you can lose an element of fairness in terms of team selection and other aspects. That can de-motivate players.

"We want to resolve these issues hand in hand with Mr Romanov to move the club forward. I don't think we are a million miles away from being a successful side."

Taken from the Scotsman