6
Friday May 4 2007
T
us did you a favour
hat thumping from
Dundee United manager
Levein says the 4-0 rout
was the kick in the bum
that his old c
W
lub needed
HEN Hearts succumbed
to a 4-0 defeat by Dundee
United in March it seemed
that their bid to secure
European football next
season was in grave
danger of being derailed.
T
But the man who orchestrated United’s win at
a blessing in disguise for the Gorgie outfit.
ynecastle that day believes it may have been
impressed by the way that his old club have
Former Hearts boss Craig Levein has been
bounced back from a result which could have
had a devastating ef
LOW POINT: Players took a look at themselves after United debacle
qualifying for the UEF
fect on their hopes of
A Cup.
position of prominence on the coaching side.
By SIMON COX
Hearts are one of the great institutions and for
over Hibs, Kilmarnock and Celtic, with just one
Since then, Hearts have recorded vital wins
planetsimon@btconnect.com
me it’
defeat away to Rangers, as they have clawed
“He knows how important it is for the club
s good that the club has Stevie there.
their way back into the reckoning.
more togetherness and last Sunday against Celtic
to get into Europe, as will some of the
Scottish lads in the squad.
encounter with
That has set up what will be a nerve-shredding
they were excellent.
Sunday, when a win for Hearts would take them
Aberdeen at Tynecastle this
and a bunker mentality whereby they’ve dug in
There’s been a rallying round
most seasons and it’
“In my time we had European football
to within a point of the Dons.
and it’
good to see and I’m glad that’
s been players and staff against the rest. It’
s been the response.
s
fans look forward to. It’
s something the
the size of Hearts to be involved in it.”
s vital for a club
over Jimmy Calderwood’
And Levein, who also guided United to victory
month, backs Hearts to get the result they need to
s men at Pittodrie last
Hearts fans away disappointed after the game
“I didn’t take great satisfaction from sending the
late for them to repeat last season’
While Hearts’ upturn has come too
pile even more pressure on their third-place rivals.
with us, but in a a way it’
was the point where they hit rock bottom and
s been a good thing. It
feat of splitting the Old Firm, Levein
s
believes his former club can mount
played them at
He said: “Hearts have improved a lot since we
there’
a serious title challenge next term.
“Maybe as a result of that game a few of the
Tynecastle.
players took a look at themselves.
having seen some Hearts games, I’m taking
“Having played against
s been a significant response to it.
Aberdeen recently and
Hearts to come out on top on Sunday
managing at Hearts the Old
He added: “When I was
Firm had any amount of big-
acceptable and I think because of that there’
noises coming out of Tynecastle that it wasn’t
There were
it can get them into Europe I don’t know
. Whether
name players.
been a stif
s
Levein believes a huge amount of credit for the
.”
turnaround is due to assistant coach Stevie Frail
the Old Firm has dropped and
“Now the quality of player at
they showed a lot of determination and fighting
“I was at the derby match the next week and
fening in the players’ resolve.
who, beside interim boss
it is achievable to catch them.
spirit which wasn’t evident when we played them.
done much to rekindle the dressing room spirit.
Anatoly Korobochka, has
If there was ever a time for
“There seemed to be
He said: “I brought Stevie in to help John
McGlynn with the youth
team. He has a good
a club outside the Old Firm to
sense of humour and is
win the title it is now
L
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2 WIN
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DEFEA
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good with people. He’
Heart
s 0-4
Dund
ee
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young man still learning
s a
chance this season because
“It may have been a missed
.
K
a
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n
m
g
a
e the managerial side but
the Old Firm might splash the
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cash this summer
“But if Hearts have the
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“It’
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s always important
.
funds available and spend
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who has an idea of what
the cash wisely then I think
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2
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H
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the club is about in a
they can be involved in
the championship race
next season.”
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