Hearts still to prove they are stuff of Champions

HEARTS fans were today waking up to sore heads as they celebrated their side finishing second in the SPL and qualifying for next season's Champions League.

The Jam Tarts narrowly saw off Aberdeen 1-0 in the capital to bury Rangers chances - and spark wild scenes at Tynecastle which went on long into the night.

However, a sobering thought for the Gorgie faithful is the list of teams that could stand between them and a place in the group stages.

Several top leagues around Europe have still to reach a conclusion. But no matter who finishes where, Hearts face a huge task to get into the Champions League proper.

They will be seeded in the second qualification round that kicks off on July 26, and barring a very tough draw, should get through to the final eliminator. But at the third round stage, Hearts could draw a giant like Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Benfica or Werder Bremen.

Celtic will also have to qualify - if Arsenal beat Barcelona in the Champions League Final in Paris in two weeks - but the champions would be seeded and, on paper, would have a much better chance than Hearts of going through.

But nothing could dampen the spirits of the Hearts players as they turned up for training today knowing they had split the Old Firm - with the Scottish Cup Final against Gretna still to come.

Skipper Steven Pressley said: "We had to show we had the bottle and we answered that against Aberdeen."

The Edinburgh club are the first non-Old Firm side from Scotland to qualify for Europe's premier club tournament since Aberdeen featured in the European Cup of 1985/86.

However, Pressley insists he was always confident Hearts could achieve something special and is looking to make a similar impact in the next campaign.

He said: "I'm sure there will be additions in the summer because we haven't won the league, we've qualified for the Champions League. We have to prove that we can sustain a challenge to the Old Firm again next season.

"The proof of a good team is that they can produce, season after season."

Taken from Evening Times