I SNUBBED GERS DEAL FOR PORTO BUT NOW MY HEART IS FIRMLY IN GORGIE

Aug 20 2005

Jankauskas backs Jambos to join old club in Europe elite

By Anthony Haggerty

HEARTS striker Edgaras Jankauskas last night revealed he snubbed a move to Rangers because he felt Porto were a far bigger club Rangers boss Alex McLeish has admitted he weighed up a move for the Lithuanian international two years ago.

It came during the most successful spell in Porto's history as they captured the UEFA Cup and Champions League in back-to-back seasons under coach Jose Mourinho.

Jankauskas missed out on the 2003 UEFA Cup Final victory over Celtic in Seville but was on the bench the following year when Porto lifted the European Cup.

The 30-year-old stoked the flames of this week's row over Tynecastle ticket allocations for Rangers with his admission that he dismissed the notion of a switch to Ibrox out of hand two years ago.

He said: "I heard of Rangers' interest in me when I was at Porto but I did not get the chance to talk to them. I was not all that interested as I felt Porto were a bigger club because they were playing regular European football.

"They won a lot of trophies and I was with them when they won the UEFA Cup and Champions League.

"But that is all in the past and now I am looking forward to my future with Hearts."

Jankauskas,who is onloan from Lithuanian side FBK Kaunas, insists that given time the club can emulate Porto by competing in the Champions League He is convinced that Jambos owner Vladimir Romanov's dream of getting the betterofthe OldFirmandwinningtheSPLcan become a reality.

He said: "Hearts, like Porto, are a very well-organised club and play at a high level. Porto are always playing in the Champions League, although Hearts are not at that stage yet.

"But they will definitely progress andwe are already on the right lines. It is a realistic ambition for Hearts to aim to play in the Champions League but we have to realise we cannot build a team in a year. It takes a few years to do that."

Jankauskas has been impressed with Hearts' explosive start to the SPL campaign under boss George Burley. They are top of the table after securing maximum points from three gamesand scoring 11 goals.

And he reckons the key to their success so far is a good team spirit. He said: "We are pleased with our start to the season but there is still a long way to go.

"Everything is running well but we are realistic enough to know that one day we will lose - but we will not lose easily.

"The three SPL games were not as easy to win as they looked. The scores of 4-2, 4-0 and 3-0 were achieved through much hard work.

"Other teams may have much bigger names in their squad but the spirit within the Hearts team is our strong point."

Hearts take on a rejuvenated Aberdeen side buoyed by last Sunday's 3-2 win over Rangers.

But boss George Burley has responded to midweek claims by Dons counterpart Jimmy Calderwood that the Gorgie side are a team of long-ball merchants and did not merit being top of the table.

Burley said: "Everyone is entitled to his view but I have been a manager for 15 years and all my teams have played good attractive football. We like to pass the ball and attack teams.

"Nothing will change in my football philosophy and I know Hearts are far from being the finished article.

"When you are top of the league people are goingtosaythosethingsbutthat is uptothem"The fans have voted with their feet over what they think about the side but others will think differently and it is up to them to form their own opinions.

"Aberdeen are a good side and will fancy their chances at Tynecastle after the Rangers result but I told my players that if they want to stay at the top end of the table they have to strive for consistency."

Burley believes he is still two players short of being satisfied in terms of squad numbers forthe rest of the season. He was on a scouting mission to the Czech Republic in midweek and hinted he may raid that market again - or the Polish one - after the successes of Rudolf Skacel, Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil.

He is still looking for hands-on owner Romanov to bankroll further additions to the squad but insists that team selection will remain his alone.

Burley said: "Hearts' squad is not strong enough if we are serious about our intentions of finishing third and getting into Europe.

"Mr Romanov is aware of the signings that I am trying to bring to the club.

"We need at least two players before the transfer window closes but I pick the team and the day I don't pick the team will be the day I amno longer here.

"The Czech market is one that I have had success in before.

"I have been aware of both the Czech and the Polish markets for a couple of seasons and there are good bargains to be had

Taken from the Daily Record