Hungarians out to cause surprise against Hearts

Published Date: 04 August 2011
By ALEX SCHWEITZER-THOMPSON
With no injury worries and little expected of them in tonight's Europa League third qualifying round return leg with Hearts, despite the score standing at 1-1, Paksi arrived in Edinburgh yesterday sparing any bullishness and bravado.
Their sanguine coach, Karoly Kis, the reigning Hungarian manager of the year, may have been excused a remark of would-be concern over a host in disarray following the dismissal of manager Jim Jefferies and appointment of Paulo Sergio earlier in the week. Members of the media who assembled at Tynecastle as he offered his thoughts on this evening's tie would not have begrudged him a mention of his team's impressive away form en route to this stage of the competition.

Only sympathy and respect for Jefferies, coupled with an insistence that Hearts players are professional enough to survive the swift transition of coaching staff, was forthcoming when Kis was quizzed on the current difficult predicament of the home team. Exultation in his team's achievement in reaching this stage of continental competition, not expression of hope that his charges could progress yet further, was the official party line when the coach was asked about Paksi's chances in the match.

"We will not go into the game only attacking, but if the time is passing and it's 0-0 we will have to take some risks." That was as candid as the 47-year-old manager was prepared to be ahead of an evenly-poised second leg. "There's no question it's a big advantage for the home team. At the kick-off, they are in the next round."

Paksi saw off Andorran side Santa Coloma in the first qualifying round, then set up the meetings with Hearts by surprising Tromso. That they progressed at the expense of the Norwegians after drawing 1-1 at home then notching up a 3-0 away win at the world's northernmost top-flight team represents a capability on the road of which Hearts will undoubtedly be wary. The Hungarians face the same uphill task tonight as they did on touching down in northern Scandinavia - only in front of a partisan home crowd three times as big.

"In Hungary before this round, everybody thought Paksi had the lowest chance because we had Tromso who were the stronger team," said Kis. "At this moment, there is only one Hungarian team in the Europa League and Champions League - Paksi. We had a very long wait, because it was 2006 when we first played in the First Division in Hungary. Now, it's 2011 and we are in the third (qualifying] round of the UEFA Europa League. It's a great thing and we are very happy but the way has not ended yet.

"We heard there will be 15-16,000 spectators. One-and-a-half years before, we came last in the First Division in Hungary, so we are very happy.

We dreamed that we could play in the Europa League, a big match in a big stadium against a big team. We love British football and some of the players in the team like Scottish football - but we are not tourists. We come to Scotland to play football and to go to the play-off in the Europa League."

As Hearts crashed to defeat against Dundee United at the weekend, Paksi could manage just a point from their home league game. Kis admits that a schedule of regular Thursday and Sunday double-headers in Europe and at home has naturally compromised his team's form. His players, however, can draw any necessary extra energy and adrenalin from the rare opportunity of playing in front of a five-figure crowd. Hearts' fortunes could similarly swing either way, says Kis, following a turbulent start to the week for the Gorgie club.

"The players of Hearts are professional and they know what it is to lose a match (against Dundee United]," said Kis. "After that, if they have another game, everybody gives their best. We are also unhappy because we didn't win a home game last weekend. When you are always playing Thursday-Sunday, sometimes you have to lose.

"I'm a little bit unhappy because Mr Jefferies and I spoke before and after the match and I have big respect for him. I wish him to have a team in a short time because our (coaches'] job is working on the field.

"Sometimes if a team has a new coach, it's a positive motivation for every player," he argued. "Those who played in the team under the former trainer must give his best to be in the team, and those who didn't play get more motivation to reach that level."

The Paksi coach recognises that there is no shortage of reasons for those wearing maroon to pull out all the stops, with a new manager to impress and a chance to land within one tie of a Europa League spot. Despite his understated belief on his own players, Kis will also hope Paksi prove the theory that there is often no opponent more dangerous than one that has already realised its dream.

Taken from the Scotsman