Hearts ace Adrian Mrowiec vows to shock Ibrox side again

Craig Swan

ADRIAN MROWIEC helped to destroy Rangers' Champions League dreams this season.

Today at Ibrox, the Hearts ace has set his sights on doing the same to the Light Blues' SPL title aspirations.

Mrowiec returns to Govan seven months after he dropped in as an FBK Kaunas player for their Euro qualifier.

The Lithuanian minnows nabbed a 0-0 away draw before, incredibly, blowing a massive hole in Rangers' self-esteem and finances in the second leg with a stunning 2-1 win.

Mrowiec admits he had little idea at the time just how big a shockwave his side had sent through Scottish football.

But the Polish player recalled the celebrations with fondness and reckons the victory was pivotal in securing his switch to Gorgie.

Mrowiec said: "We were all very excited when we went to Ibrox. We knew it was a big stadium and there would be a lot of people at the ground.

"It is good to play in an atmosphere like this. We knew there could be clubs watching some of the Kaunas players in that game so everyone at the club wanted to do well. Everyone wanted to play to try to beat Rangers."

Of course, there was no shortage of added incentives for the Kaunas players, with Vladimir Romanov at the Lithuanians' helm.

He rejoiced in destroying the Ibrox side's credibility on the continent and Mrowiec said: "He came into the dressing room and I don't think he could believe what had happened.

"He did tell us before the first leg we had to beat Rangers at Ibrox but he was still very happy after the second game in Kaunas.

"We didn't get a big bonus. The big bonus for us all was the fact we had beaten Rangers because everyone was talking about us.

"I don't know if Rangers expected to beat us easily or not. They maybe thought 'Kaunas? Who are this team?' "When we played against them in Lithuania, Rangers played a lot better but we managed to score the goals that took us through and were very pleased. We played well but that game was early in the season and I don't think Rangers were ready for it.

"Now Rangers are a better team but beating them was something great and no one could believe it."

Mrowiec moved to Hearts on the back of Kaunas' success and naturally, given his experiences, has plenty of reasons to be confident of getting the job done as a Jambo.

Csaba Laszlo's team beat Rangers 2-1 when the sides last clashed and Mrowiec said: "We can win. We can lose. Anything can happen.

"But we are going to Rangers looking to win and we want to win. We want to get into the top six and, if we do that, we can look to Europe."

Of course, winning at Ibrox would cement Hearts' position in third spot in the SPL and tighten their grip on that prized place in Europe next term.

Mrowiec's loan deal expires in the summer but he is adamant he wants to remain at Tynecastle and prove his worth, having missed the majority of the season through injury.

His Kaunas experience whetted the appetite for European football and he has no doubt he's in a position to do even better now that he has switched to Hearts.

The Lithuanians bowed out to Aalborg after beating Rangers but Mrowiec said: "Hearts are a much bigger club than Kaunas.

"If Hearts were to get into Europe we could do better than I did. We could get to the group stages of the Europa League but it all depends on what new players come in because we have the potential to do more.

"My contract is up at the end of May but I want to stay and the club know that. It is now up to the manager."

Boss Laszlo may see a place for Mrowiec's versatility in his long-term plans with the Pole able to play in defence, midfield or even up front.

He has nine games left to convince his gaffer and he added: "I have played in a few positions but I prefer midfield. It is nothing new to me to play in a number of positions.

"I just want to get a run in the team. I have had injury problems but I am now fit and getting close to my full fitness. I hope to play a lot more in the final few games."

Taken from the Daily Record