MacFarlane motivated by his desire to take on Europe's finest

HEARTS BY MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS midfielder Neil MacFarlane today revealed the prospect of sampling more European glamour ties against the likes of Bordeaux is continuing to spur the players on in their bid to claim third spot in the SPL.

The midfielder looked on with interest during the week as the French outfit, who knocked the Jambos out of the UEFA Cup at the second round stage earlier this season, were beaten 2-1 at home by Valencia and couldn’t help wondering what if?

Just one goal separated MacFarlane and his team-mates from the French side over the two legs and the former Airdrie star admits everyone at the club is desperate to go one better and learn the lessons of this season’s campaign.

"Getting the chance to try and go one better in the UEFA Cup is definitely a big incentive for us," said MacFarlane, who, as one of several players out of contract at Tynecastle in the summer, is hoping to secure a new deal.

"This season was my first taste of European competition and the whole experience of going abroad and playing new teams was brilliant.

"We have to aim to get back into Europe because it was a great experience for everyone involved.

"I think you’ve seen with how far Bordeaux have gone that they’re a pretty good side and I suppose you can’t help wishing we had done better at home having got such a good result when we played over there.

"It was disappointing not to have built on that and I think trying to do better next time and at least go a stage further is motivating us as we try to clinch third place.

"We know that it’s between ourselves and Dunfermline now for the third place and having tasted European football we are desperate to make sure it’s us that gets it."

And MacFarlane insists that the off-field wrangles over where the club will be playing their football next season as well as the resignation of Douglas Smith and the appointment of George Foulkes as chairman this week will not be allowed to affect performances on the pitch.

"Obviously everyone wishes the new chairman all the best but other than that what goes on off the pitch doesn’t really concern us.

"We are all paid to get results on the park and I think it’s all credit to the boys that they have done that so far. We have turned in some good performances and gone on a really good run and we have to look to try and keep that going.

"The players have tried not to get involved in any of the off-field matters. We are aware of what’s going on but it’s not for us to get involved in.

"We are all trying to concentrate on getting third place and maybe even trying to close the gap on the two teams above us.

"Celtic are probably a fair bit ahead of everyone else at the moment but we have closed the gap on Rangers a wee bit this season and that is something we have to keep striving to do.

"Over the course of the season I think they are maybe still a wee bit stronger which is why they are second and we are third. They deserve to be ahead as they have been more consistent.

"We have proved in the last quarter that we can match both the Old Firm sides on the day as we have drawn with both of them and were probably unlucky not to have won the games.

"When we played Rangers at Tynecastle I felt we could have won the game and then last week against Celtic we came so close to leaving with three points.

"What we have to do now is try and do that over the long term and not just one game.

"That won’t be easy and everyone knows that but we are going in the right direction and we can’t let anything get in the way of that."

Taken from the Scotsman