JAMBOS WILL KNOW SCORE

HEARTS will leave nothing to chance when they start their Champions League quest - no matter who they come out the hat with in Friday's draw for the qualifying rounds.

With the lucrative groups stages awaiting theJambos, owner Vladimir Romanov will demand his management team and players know EVERYTHING about the opposition.

But it's a far cry from Hearts' last assault on Europe's biggest prize - when the Gorgie side didn't have a clue about who they were facing.

Jambos legend Jimmy Murray is one of the few players who turned out for the club in their two previous European Cup campaigns in 1958 and 1960.

They crashed out at the first hurdle both times - 6-3 on aggregate to Standard Liege then 5-1 to Benfica.

And while Hearts will compile an extensive dossier on the side they are paired with in Friday's draw, old gaffer Tommy Walker and his troops did NO homework on the opposition.

Murray said: "When we played Benfica we were going into the unknown.

"Compared to the preparation that goes into the game today we had nothing - no idea what we were up against.

"We had no video footage, no scouting missions. We didn't even know their players names and had no chance of seeing them every week on TV.

"We were just told to go out there and play against another team.

"And we weren't short of confidence. We had some great players like John Cumming and Willie Bauld.

"But Benfica were a hell of a good side. They had this ability to turn it on. I'm not sure our fans realised what they were seeing. Benfica went on to win the trophy and end Real Madrid's run of five-in-a-row.

"It's a different ball game now and I can't wait to see what Friday throws up."

Even at 73 Murray admits he'll be blowing the dust off his passport to follow his beloved club abroad.

The former inside-right said: "I didn't think I'd ever see the day when we'd be playing in this competition again after some tough times. The players earned their place last season - and now I'd LOVE us to make it to the group stages.

"But the team and the dugout needs to be settled.

"Hopefully the manager's situation is sorted out soon as well as the situation with Andy Webster.

"The fans are excited at the prospect of following the team away and I'm no different. I might need a new passport photo but I'd love to go."

Hearts announced last Friday that their Champions League games will be played at Murrayfield next season.

And Murray is disappointed Tynecastle won't get to sample more glory nights.

He said: "I know how much Tynecastle can help the team.

"We had 39,000 roaring us on against Standard Liege. The numbers have changed but the atmosphere hasn't."

Taken from the Sunday Mail