Craig aiming to fly the flag

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein hopes the Jambos can strike a blow for Scotland against Bordeaux tonight - after being hurt by claims that the SPL is the laughing stock of Europe.

The Gorgie outfit take a 1-0 lead into tonight’s second round, second leg tie at a sell-out Tynecastle aware of the fact that Scottish teams have underperformed on the big stage in recent years.

Victory over Michel Pavon’s revitalised outfit will see Hearts stay in Europe beyond Christmas, an achievement not many teams from north of the border can lay claim to recently.

"We know that as much as Celtic and Rangers have carried the SPL flag into the Champions League this season, it hasn’t always been the case of Scottish teams doing well in Europe," said Levein.

"I think that people should put their allegiances aside whenever it comes to any Scottish club competing in Europe.

"I have read in our own Press that when our teams get knocked out of Europe we are then regarded as the laughing stock of Europe. That hurts me as a manager in the SPL and I am sure it hurts those managers who have gone out of Europe. I think it is vital the SPL is seen as a league that is at least above ridicule. We have to try to put it on such a level so that when the draws are made, some teams say ‘we don’t want a team from Scotland’.

"That has not been the case in the past and we are acutely aware that we have the chance to fly the flag a little bit tonight and we will be doing our best to do so."

The ever-thoughtful Levein has spent the week plotting the downfall of Bordeaux, trying to come up with another masterplan to wreck the hopes of the French aces.

The Hearts boss was the first to admit he didn’t expect to take a lead into the second leg, the Gorgie chief and his management team fully expecting to have to chase the game this evening. However, Mark de Vries’ close-range winner in the Stade Chaban-Delmas changed all that and left Levein conceding that he will order his players to adopt a ‘cautious’ approach to the tie.

"To be honest, I was expecting to be something like 1-0 down going into the second leg at Tynecastle," he said.

"We set our stall out to defend and the likelihood was we wouldn’t get many scoring opportunities. I was delighted we were able to take one of the chances which did come our way and get a lead in the tie.

"We have therefore had to rethink our plans for the game as we don’t need to win it on the night. I’d say the approach will be cautious.

"But the important thing is that there will be 18,000 fans behind us and no matter what the tactics, the players’ enthusiasm is going to be one of the over-riding factors and that in itself will produce a willingness to attack.

"And I have to take that into account when I am working out how to approach this game.

"We will be cautious but at the same time if we can get a goal and some momentum going then Tynecastle can be a difficult place for opposition teams to play."

He added: "It will be unusual in that normally at Tynecastle it is all-out attack for Hearts.

"But there should be a recognition that for Hearts to get through this tie will be a massive achievement. And how we go about doing that is not the most important thing - getting through is.

"I don’t think that many people in Scotland realise the quality of this Bordeaux team. They have climbed the league in France since the new manager Michel Pavon came in and we are the only side to have beaten them since he took charge and they have played some decent teams in France.

"To get through in this tie against a team of this quality would be an amazing achievement."

Taken from the Scotsman