Hearts crashed out of Champions League qualifying 6-0 on aggregate after losing 2-0 at home to Sturm Graz. The Tynecastle side must now turn their attention to a Premiership opener at Aberdeen, followed by a Europa League qualifier against either Benfica or St Gallen.
Head coach Wouter Vrancken said his side's preparation time was too short compared with their Austrian opponents, but insisted that could not be used as an excuse for the trip to Pittodrie.
Vrancken said they had to go step by step, but could not wait until they were physically at their top to get results. He said that within their physical preparation and the steps they had to make, they had to take the results and go into the games and hopefully finish it.
He said the night had to be perfect against Sturm Graz to do something, and that the first half was good, especially the first half hour, with a lot of intensity and energy to score goals. He said they made one miscalculation and gave away one chance, but had control of the game.
Vrancken said they had to reward themselves, but instead dropped off around the 60th minute, the same as the previous week, and that was when the difference in physical preparation showed. He said Sturm Graz had six weeks of preparation while Hearts had three.
No Blame for Players
Vrancken said they had to be ready for every moment at that level, and that in both games they were really good until the point where they physically could not keep it up. He said goals went together with physical preparation, and that being physically at the top helped players stay clear headed and make better decisions in the final moments.
He said he could not blame the players at all, and that it was not about a lack of quality but about needing to make steps after a short preparation.
Winger Alexandros Kyziridis went off late in the game with what appeared to be a fitness issue, while Stephen Kingsley was substituted early in the second half. Vrancken said it was not looking good for Kingsley, calling it a pity because he had been playing really well.
