WE ARE READY, STEADY & GOING PLACES

HEARTS boss Valdas Ivanauskas last night defended his team amid claims they aren't ready for the new season.

Jambos owner Vladimir Romanov declared his disappointment with the performance against Siroki Brijeg in Wednesday's Champions League qualifier

He said preparations for the new campaign started too late, even though he himself changed their plans to take the first-team squad on a cruise in the Med.

Ivanauskas denied a rift with Romanov ahead of Celtic's visit to Tynecastle tomorrow, as Hearts paraded another new signing, Portuguese full-back/right midfielder Tiago Costa.

But even his arrival is shrouded in controversy, coming little more than a week after the coaching staff suggested publicly that he wasn't necessarily any better than Robbie Neilson or Nerijus Barasa.

Costa, 21, signed a two-year contract with a 12-month option on Thursday night, hours before the signing deadline for the Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens, and is in the squad to face Gordon Strachan's side tomorrow.

Ivanauskas insisted his side's display in the goalless draw in Bosnia did not set the standard for the season.

He said: "What counts in the Champions League and international matches is the result.

"The performance in Bosnia might not have been the most beautiful but what counts is the result.

"Also, we have not conceded a goal in Europe or in any of our pre-season games so far."

Ivanauskas spoke through an interpreter, which is his preferred option when he knows thorny issues are about to be raised and he has a particular point to put across.

He denied Record Sport's story of a row with Romanov but is facing a three-week spell that could make or break his career at Hearts.

But Ivanauskas was anxious to put that uncertainty to the back of his mind as last season's SPL runners-up prepared to play host to the champions.

Both sides have good reason to feel out of sorts after exhausting midweek trips, although Celtic's whistlestop visit to Japan was much more controversial as it was for an exhibition match.

Ivanauskas said: "I presume the game Celtic played had a reason and I presume it was arranged a long time ago. It's business.

"Every trip you make in football, whether it's five hours on a bus or a plane, has an effect, positive or negative.

"Both teams are competitive and were the best sides in the league last season and I'm sure it will be an interesting game of quality for players and fans.

"Every game we played against each other last season was a special occasion with its own Vald blasts claims Tynecastle men have been caught short special moments. It was the same in matches against Rangers.

"All three sides competed for the title last season and I'm sure it will be the same this time around but only God knows what you can expect from these matches."

Ivanauskas reckons frontman Edgaras Jankauskas, who missed the trip to Bosnia through injury, has only a "small chance" of facing Celtic.

Paul Hartley has also been ruled out and, worryingly, Ivanauskas could not pinpoint when he expects to see the Scotland star back in action.

The coach said: "The best time for Paul to come back would be today. Everyone understands the value of Paul to the Hearts team.

"We need Paul, we all know we really need him, but after his injury it does not benefit him or the team to bring him back too quickly.

"It's very hard to say with concrete assurance when he will return but the main objective is not to ruin Paul and I'll give him all the time he needs."

Costa joins Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla and Greek defender Christos Karipidis as Hearts' summer signings.

Ivanauskas admits he would like to add another two or three players to his squad but there is still no sign of the two World Cup performers allegedly set to arrive at the club almost three weeks ago.

Tiago failed to make the breakthrough at former club Benfica but had been promised a place in Ronald Koeman's first-team squad in the season ahead by the club president.

The player said: "I'd been at the club since the age of 10 but Benfica does not use its reserve players much - they normally buy players from outside the club instead.

"They change coaches very regularly and this definitely did not help me win a place in the team.

"The president told me I would play for the first team this season but in the end we could not agree a contract and I preferred to move away.

"I know Bruno Aguiar from our time together at Benfica and he gave me good information about Hearts. I also know Edgaras Jankauskas from Porto and Takis Fyssas who also played at Benfica.

"I've spent the last three weeks training with Hearts and during that time I could see this is a great club with great players and supporters.

"I'm very optimistic about the club and life in Edinburgh and I'll work hard to get an opportunity here and then take it.

"Scottish football is different from the Portuguese game but I've already had the chance to play several matches and I believe I'll be integrated very soon."

Ivanauskas said: "I'm sure Tiago will be helpful for us in the rotation process during the new season.

"We're still interested in two or three other new players before the signing deadline at the end of the month but for now we're fully concentrated on the games that lie immediately ahead."

Taken from the Daily Record