Another formidable task awaits Hearts in Turkey after Celtic Park thrashing
Wouter Vrancken has warned Hearts not to become fixated on stopping Mohamed Salah because on-song Trabzonspor have plenty other threats that must also be dealt with.
Just a few days after a humiliating 7-1 trouncing at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership, the Jambos have arrived in Turkey for another formidable test in the Conference League on Thursday.
Egyptian superstar Salah has already notched nine times in 11 appearances since joining Trabzonspor from Liverpool in the summer.
Asked about countering the threat of the 34-year-old goal machine at his team’s eve-of-match press conference at Papara Park, Vrancken said: “For sure, you have to make it a team effort. You cannot focus only on Salah. He is not the only one with a lot of qualities.
“They have a lot of players who can decide a game but of course he is a world-class player so we will have to do something to make sure he does not stick out but it will not be easy, especially with such a player.
“But at the same time, we have to also believe in the things we are doing. Like in the example from Benfica, they had also a lot of quality players who can decide a game.
“We did that also with a team environment and team effort (in a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle in August). That will be necessary also tomorrow.”
Trabzonspor are fourth in the Turkish Super Lig and have won each of their last four matches in all competitions, scoring 13 goals in the process.
Vrancken, whose side drew 1-1 in their Conference League opener at home to Nordsjaelland last week, is braced for an opponent of a higher standard than anything Hearts will encounter domestically.
“Yeah, I think the quality of their team is European top level,” he said. “You see that in their results now. They beat Galatasaray 4-0, without any problems. Then you are a top team. For sure, they are a really good side. It will be very, very difficult.”
Vrancken is confident his players have banished the Celtic defeat from their system. He has no intention of altering his attack-minded principles but stressed that Hearts must be far better defensively and in possession than they were on Sunday.
The manager revealed that centre-back Stuart Findlay and the versatile Oisin McEntee have remained at home due to groin and calf injuries respectively.
“I have to say, I’ve never experienced in my career injuries all in the same position,” he said, alluding to the fact he is now without four of his preferred central-midfield options in Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud, Ageu and McEntee.
“But at the same time we have to cope with it. I’m trusting the guys who will play tomorrow and who will take these positions. They have our full support there. We will go on the pitch with the belief that we can do and show something.”