Bednar says Hearts stars still share Burley vision

HEARTS striker Roman Bednar today told how the vision of former manager George Burley is still influencing the Tynecastle dressing room as the club strives for the Champions League.

Burley was sacked by Vladimir Romanov, Hearts' majority shareholder, last October after overseeing a ten-game unbeaten run at the start of the league campaign.

Many senior players were said to be upset by his removal at the time.

Despite both Graham Rix and Valdas Ivanauskas succeeding Burley, Bednar revealed in the build-up to tomorrow's meeting with Celtic at Tynecastle that the Hearts squad have retained the psychology originally imparted to them by the Scot.

"We started so well under George and, after he left, I think everybody wanted to hold his vision," said the Czech.

"Every trainer and every manager brings something different, but we wanted to keep the same vision from George's time because it worked best for us.

"He still has an influence over us although he is not here any more."

Bednar discussed briefly the alternative therapy methods on offer at Hearts amidst stories of Lithuanian medics with unorthodox ways of treating players.

The forward conceded that he would not close his mind off to the prospect of alternative therapy were it to benefit him.

He said: "In Scotland, the physiotherapy is a class or two above what I was used to in Czech football. I use some of the alternative therapies on offer at Hearts because I don't know much about physiotherapy and I like to try new things. But some things are good and some are bad."

Bednar is certain to resume his striking partnership with Edgaras Jankauskas against Celtic after the Lithuanian watched from the stand against Hibs last week, however Andy Webster has suffered an Achilles injury and will not be included in the squad.

Bednar recalled the controversial incident from Hearts' previous meeting with Celtic earlier this month when he was felled in the penalty area in a challenge with Bobo Balde. Referee Dougie McDonald did not, however, award Hearts a penalty and consequently they lost the match 1-0.

"The tackle wasn't clever," said Bednar. "He went to kick the ball but he kicked me. The referee said it wasn't a penalty, I thought it was 50-50.

"Also, when we played Celtic on January 1, I thought the worst tackle was again by Balde on Deividas Cesnauskis, but he only got a yellow card. Then, if you watch Takis Fyssas' tackle on Shaun Maloney on television in that match, it is so funny that he got a red card.

"I think we need to win tomorrow.

"We need every point now. If we beat Celtic we will be very, very close to the Champions League place for next season. I think so many changes to the team make it difficult but we are professionals and we must play whether we have a gaffer, or a new gaffer, or no gaffer.

"We look like a strong team and we are a strong team. I think everybody will be happy if we stay second and win the cup because this season has been so difficult. I think we need it to be more settled."

Taken from the Scotsman