Hearts hope to strike blow for Scots

STUART BATHGATE

THE culture clash at Murrayfield tonight will be not only between the worlds of rugby and football, but also between two very different philosophies of how to play. Hearts believe that the traditional Scottish virtues can help them achieve a good result in the first leg of this UEFA Cup tie against Braga, whereas the Portuguese coach thinks that may well prove to be their undoing.

"We’re aware Braga are a good, technically gifted side, but we have a lot of confidence that we can win the tie," said Steven Pressley, the Hearts captain. "They have some excellent movement and one-touch football. We’ll have to be very aggressive. We play in a relatively aggressive manner week in, week out. We all know our job. A good team can beat a technically gifted side, but it’s obviously going to be very difficult."

Pressley also spoke of the need to be aware of possible Portuguese gamesmanship, adding: "They know how to get fouls for themselves, and are very good at getting their bodies between the ball and their opponent. I just hope we have a strong referee."

Jesualdo Ferreira, the Braga coach, harbours the same hopes - although his definition of strong refereeing is different from Pressley’s. For Ferreira, the very aggression of which Pressley spoke is at best a limited virtue.

"Scottish football is normally aggressive. I don’t know if it’s possible for them to be more aggressive," he said. "It’s a problem for Scottish football, and so is our technique and the speed at which we play." Ferreira admitted that, as Hearts won in Bordeaux last season before going out of the cup in the return leg at Tynecastle, the tie as a whole was hard to predict. "I think we can win tomorrow," he said, but refused to forecast what might happen in the return leg.

While stressing the virtues of disciplined teamwork, Ferreira singled out a couple of Hearts players for a special mention. "Hearts play with steel, and I know about Mark de Vries. They are not quick up front, but De Vries is very strong, though I think he has injury problems.

"Paul Hartley is also a very good player, and I think the defence is very strong too."

Taken from the Scotsman