WE WON'T BE CAUGHT COLD

HEARTS boss Valdas Ivanauskas last night insisted Hearts won't be caught cold and suffer the same Champions League fate as Celtic did last season.

Slovak minnows Artmedia Bratislava stunned Gordon Strachan's Hoops by giving them a 5-0 mauling in the first leg of their second round qualifying tie.

And while Celtic restored some pride with a 4-0 won at Parkhead in the return the damage had been done.

But Ivanauskas reckons he can turn what happened to Strachan's side to Hearts' advantage against Bosnian outfit Siroki Brijeg in tonight's Champions League second qualifying round at Murrayfield.

Jambos owner Vladimir Romanov claimed Hearts are not yet ready for the Champions League.

But Ivanauskas insists that his men are up for the task but won't be as casual in their approach as Celtic were 12 months ago.

Ivanauskas said: "Celtic losing to Art media Bratislava last season is a very good example of what can happen at this level.

"Celtic were big favourites for that game and Hearts will be the favourites for this match but it is a different situation for us.

"We are competing in this competition for the first time at this level.

"But for Celtic it is normal for them to compete in the Champions League every other season.

"Maybe the Celtic players were not ready for that kind of game they got against Artmedia Bratislava so early in the season.

"Hearts will be ready for this kind of game and we will have respect for the Bosnian team.

"Every player watched last season's games with Celtic and Artmedia and it is a good example.

"But I will not say too much about Celtic's Champions League experience to my players as I do not want to heap too much pressure on them.

"Every game in the Champions League is important and this is a great chance for Hearts to advance to the next round.

"Hearts have a very experienced squad and have players who have played Champions League football and international football so there is pressure but this is the Champions League and there is maybe slightly more pressure.

"I am trying to treat this like just another game as we have two games from which to qualify.

"Hearts are ready for the start of the season and we are ready for this Champions League match."

Ivanauskas believes that Hearts will be fine for the start of the campaign despite not having made any new summer signings and having lost fans' favourites Rudi Skacel and Andy Webster.

He said: "I trust this squad for the season and although we lost two experienced players in the shape of Rudi Skacel and Andy Webster, we have good youngsters coming through at Hearts.

"We are waiting to get the first Champions League game out of the way first and then we will maybe think about bringing in new faces."

Ivanauskas confirmed that Hearts have signed Christophe Berra and Jamie Mole on new fiveyear deals and admitted that he had no fears in throwing Berra into European action.

He said: "Christophe and Jamie are both very good young players and are the future of this club.

"It is good for the players and this can only be a good thing for Hearts.

"Christophe has done well in pre-season and in the games that we have played so far.

"He he has shown in the past that he has a big-game mentality and can handle the big occasions."

Paul Hartley and Jose Goncalves miss out for Hearts but Neil McCann and Julien Brellier will both be fit and the former Rangers and Scotland winger could be handed a surprise starting role in the side.

Ivanauskas said: "Neil came through training and has every chance of playing.

"He played against Osasuna and the game against Livingston and he was looking good."

Taken from the Daily Record