Kozlovski fails to offer adequate reasons for Gorgie slump

VLADIMIR Romanov persisted with his policy of minimal co-operation with the media yesterday by again putting up Alex Kozlovski for interview instead of the caretaker coach Eduard Malofeev or his senior colleague Anatoly Korobochka.

Kozlovski, the "sport director" whose main role at Hearts seems to be that of interpreter, was again unable to answer many questions either about the midweek derby at Easter Road or the forthcoming game on Monday night at Falkirk.

In contrast to his appearance before the 1-0 loss to Hibs, however, yesterday Kozlovski appeared to have been well briefed on certain subjects, and was able to respond to some enquiries by quoting the party line. Asked, for example, to explain Hearts' dispirited display against their rivals, he insisted that morale among the squad was high, and that the loss was caused by as yet unexplained reasons.

"Of course we're disappointed to lose a derby, but we look forward to prove it was an accident," Kozlovski said. "Maybe there was too much big expectation. The team tried their best to show people our game is right, our spirit is right.

"We think our spirits were high. The team was quite united and strong. We did well in the first 15 to 20 minutes, then something unexplained happened. We're still trying to identify what."

To many who were there, what happened was that Hearts lacked the fight to compete against opponents who were not even playing close to their best. Kozlovski did make partial concession to this viewpoint by accepting that "Hibs wished more to win" and that morale could be improved. "We don't think our spirit is so poor, [but it] is not good enough," he added. "We have already improved our discipline, then we should follow the words of the head coach. The players need to pay more attention. Concentration and attention.

"Maybe we need another training session. Eduard is very experienced and knows how to lift the team."

Every player will have the odd lapse of attention from time to time, but inability to concentrate would not strike many as Hearts' fundamental problem at present. It is also hard to believe that professional footballers have managed to reach this stage of their careers without being made aware of the need to concentrate.

For some reason, though, the coaching team of which Kozlovski is part has a fondness for imputing mental problems to players. Julien Brellier is a case in point. "He should put himself together," the interpreter said of the out-of-favour midfielder. "He's got big ability.

"If he understands we are one unit, not just one player, then he always has a place in the team as well as any other good player. Put everything together in his mind and he will be all right."

Was he saying Brellier is a selfish player? "I don't think it's the matter in this case. He has to improve his physical ability. It is nothing to do with contracts. It is down to what he is doing in training, not his contract.

"We have a big squad and I would like to stress we select the best player at the moment in training and in the moment of the game. He is involved in training at the moment and, if he continues to train as he has done, I expect him to be involved in the squad."

Nothing to do with contracts. Just as the dropping of Andy Webster last season had nothing to do with contracts. Just as earlier this season when Andy Driver was given a first-team outing just days after his contract negotiations ended harmoniously.

Less contentiously, Kozlovski said that Celtic might have already got too far ahead in the SPL for Hearts to catch. "Yes. Sometimes this happens. We cannot afford to lose any more points."

Neil McCann and Deividas Cesnauskis are out of Monday's match at Falkirk because of injury, while Edgaras Jankauskas is "a little bit unfit" according to Kozlovski but has a chance of being involved.

Taken from the Scotsman