HEARTS striker Michal Pospisil last night told how the chance of playing Champions League football stopped him leaving Tynecastle.

Norwegian League side Staebek were keen on the hitman and he travelled to the club to meet officials and check out the set-up.

But after a brief look at what they had to offer he opted to stay in Edinburgh to chase his dream of playing in Europe's elite club competition.

Pospisil, a bit-part player for the SPL runnersup last season, said: "During the summer break I got a call to say a club in Norway were interested inme so I went over to see them. I went over for one game and spoke with the board. I wanted to know more about the Norwegian League and the club.

"The first question they asked me was, 'Do you want to leave Hearts?' I thought about that but I told them it would be better for me to stay in Scotland. It was a simple choice.

"I believe I can still make it into the Hearts first team and this year is a big one for me because we are in the Champions League. It's a dream of mine to be at that stage and I want to fulfil it.

"There is more to come from me. In the first season I did well enough in the league.

"I had to get used to a different style of game and now I feel more used to the way it's played - so I can be a better player."

The Czech hitman believes Hearts can live up to the great expectations placed on them this season by Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov.

Romanov has demanded head coach Valdas Ivanauskas steers the Jambos to the SPL title and the lucrative group stages of the Champions League. Pospisil said: "We have two very big challenges ahead of us and we will try to do one or even both to please the president. I hope he believes in us.

"I don't know if he wants to bring in a lot of new players or keep the team the way it was last year but I have prepared for the new year as though I'm going to start and I will try to make an impact.

"Mr Romanov has said he wants us to win the league and qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.

"In football everything is possible but that doesn't mean it won't be very difficult because it will be."

Pospisil knows it will be crucial to get off to a flying start in the Champions League qualifiers and the SPL. But they will have to break a 20- year-old Old Firm stranglehold on the title if they are to meet Romanov's demand.

The striker said: "It will be a long season and our start is vital.

"We must stay with the two teams in Glasgow early on and we will see what happens at the end of the year."

Taken from the Daily Record