We can attract top Euro stars

HEARTS skipper Steven Pressley believes Hearts are destined for a summer raid on Europe's top players, should the club qualify for the Champions League.

Pressley insists the promise of a seat at UEFA's top table next season would be enough to attract big-name players to Gorgie during the close season and, with major shareholder Vladimir Romanov certain to invest in the squad again, it could give him a valuable bargaining tool.

The Tynecastle men lead Rangers by three points in their quest for second place in the SPL ahead of tomorrow's clash with Kilmarnock, and Pressley said: "If we can qualify for the Champions League qualifiers then I think it will enable the club to attract even better players.

"If you can dangle the carrot of Champions League football in front of players then it certainly encourages them to come to your club.

"That's why it is so important to ourselves and to Rangers. If you do earn the right to play in the Champions League and bring in better players then, in turn, you can build an even greater challenge in the SPL next season as well."

Coach Valdas Ivanauskas admits that is players have to show 100 per cent commitment to the cause over the coming five games if they are to achieve that feat, though. The thought of doing the Champions League and Scottish Cup "double" is one that clearly appeals to the Lithuanian but he is well aware of the threat UEFA Cup-chasing Killie will pose this weekend and is taking nothing for granted.

He said: "We have a very big chance here to win a place in the Champions League and to win the cup and the players must understand how important it is for them to be very focused. They must be disciplined and concentrate.

"Yes, we can be confident going into the last five games because we have played well recently. The Celtic game was very difficult for us because we played well but did not take anything from it and we know that it is going to be difficult now because all of the games now are between the six best teams in Scotland.

"We know that Kilmarnock will be tough because they have very good players and a very good manager. They are still hoping to play in the UEFA Cup but we are also trying to get into the Champions League so it will be very interesting."

The Lithuanian is certain that the only way to secure second place in the league table and win the Scottish Cup is to pull together and work as a team.

Individual contributions from Robbie Neilson and Paul Hartley have been key to the victories over Dunfermline and Hibs this month but Ivanauskas insists that they can't rely on one or two players performing well and added: "The team has been playing well, just playing away quietly and working hard for one another, especially in the games against Hibs and Celtic, and we need to continue to do that over the next few weeks.

"It is a very exciting time to be involved with Hearts, all of the games are big games and this weekend against Kilmarnock now. Because we have been playing well and doing well in the league every other team wants to win against us but we know our own players and strengths."

Hearts currently enjoy a 12-goal advantage over Rangers in the race for second place and, if they can maintain that gap, know it is almost worth another point to them. Coach John McGlynn insists he would be more than happy though, to settle for five 1-0 wins over the remainder of the season. He said: "First and foremost in our minds is that we want to go out and win what will be a very difficult game, it's not about how many we can score.

"Obviously we've got that cushion and it is up to Rangers to claw that difference back. At this stage of the season the most important thing is getting the win, even if it is only by one goal. We know Kilmarnock will make it very difficult for us because they have their own UEFA aspirations to worry about and Billy and Jim will have their players fired up."

Julien Brellier has not trained this week but was due to take some part in today's session after struggling to shake off a back injury.

Meanwhile Pierre Littbarski has verbally agreed a new deal with Sydney FC, effectively ruling him out of the running for the Hearts job.

Taken from the Scotsman