DON'T DO A CELTIC

STEVEN PRESSLEY last night urged his Hearts team-mates to make sure they avoid the kind of European catastrophe Celtic suffered last season.

The Tynecastle skipper struck a note of caution ahead of the club's Champions League qualifying bid by reminding his fellow players what happened to Gordon Strachan's side at the hands of Slovakian outfit Artmedia Bratislava at the same stage of the competition.

Celtic were humiliated 5-0 away from home and couldn't save their dream back at Parkhead.

Now Pressley has warned Hearts to beware of under-estimating whatever opposition they face as they attempt to reach the lucrative group stages.

He said: "We have to make sure we guard against complacency. I think Celtic's experience last year shows that whoever we get at this stage of qualifying will be a real test for us.

"I think the Champions League's a very special stage even though we're only at the qualifiers. And for this club it's our first opportunity to experience that.

"The UEFA Cup group stages were fantastic a couple of years ago but what we've entered into now will be an even greater experience."

With Paul Hartley set to miss the qualifiers Pressley reckons the time is right for Hearts' young guns to sample European football.

The captain has total faith in kids such as Christophe Berra, Callum Elliot, Lee Wallace and Andrew Driver.

They have all progressed through the club's youth ranks despite the arrival of a host of highly-paid foreigners since owner Vladimir Romanov swept to power.

As a raw teenager, Pressley was thrown into Rangers' European Cup clash with French cracks Marseille at Ibrox back in 1992.

And he has no doubts the Jambos youngsters would shine should Valdas Ivanauskas give them the nod over the two qualifying legs.

Pressley said: "Sometimes players can make a name for themselves on this type of stage.

"My first big game for Rangers in Europe against Marseille was a great experience and if our younger players were involved it would be the same for them as I'm sure they would revel in it.

"I think Christophe deserves his opportunity. He's a young lad with a fantastic future ahead of him but he'll only become the player he can be by being given the chance to play in the first team.

"It's exciting bringing in the foreign players but we must still promote the younger players and this is the ideal opportunity to do that with Christophe."

Pressley believes Hearts are on course to hit the ground running on the back of last weekend's impressive pre-season win at Preston.

They face Spanish aces Osasuna a t Tynecastle tomorrow in preparation for next Wednesday's first-leg qualifier at Murray field. Pressley said: "I'd say we acquitted ourselves extremely well on Saturday. I think Osasuna will give us a wee bit of experience in terms of how they play the game in Europe compared to Scotland.

"There aren't too many of us left from the UEFA Cup squad two seasons ago so it will be ideal preparation.

"Those games were good nights at Murrayfield. The fans generated a great atmosphere and hopefully they can do that again."

Hartley plans to spur on his team-mates from the sidelines. He said: "We have a few young players in the squad and I'll maybe be giving them a wee talk.

"I'll be wishing the boys all the best but ask any player and they'll say it's always difficult having to watch from the stand.

"We have a hectic start to the season with the qualifiers and the Old Firm early on so it's a big few weeks which hopefully we'll do well in."

Taken from the Daily Record