Optimistic -but also aware of the difficulties of the fight with him PAOK– her technician appeared Hearts.
Ahead of the first match for the Conference League playoffs, the Frankie McAvoy he emphasized that his team will not go into an open game in order not to give the “two-headed man of the North” the opportunity to use his big weapon, which is the transition.
He stated optimistically, that with the help of the world, one can come win which will send Hearts into the second leg of Toumba with a lead.
What he said in detail
On the decision not to include George Grant and Peter Haring in the list of matches against PAOK: “We’ve got a whole squad to choose from and George is unlucky, but that’s the competition. It’s important for us to have that and it’s difficult for George because he came out a loser. Peter, on the other hand, is injured, not far from recovery.
These decisions are difficult. I want to say though that Grant is still part of the team, we’ve told him that, we just have to make the decisions based on the facts and the rules that are there. Unfortunately, George was one of those we had to cross off the list.”
For the games with PAOK: “It’s another tough pair of games. I don’t think many people thought we would get past Rosenborg in two games. This lottery is similar. PAOK is a good team, very good at home. We must take the initiative. It’s two semi-finals or two finals. In any way. PAOK pushes high and threatens both from the wings and from the “10” position and that of the forward”.
On whether Hearts will look for the lead ahead of the Toumba match: “It would be ideal. The most important thing is to make sure we are in the playoffs. It will be great if we go there with a lead. This is our goal, but we also need to be patient. We don’t want to go into a very open game and get beat in transition, because that’s their big weapon.”
On the role the stand can play: “I think the public will play an important role tomorrow (ie today). Even when we were a goal behind against Rosenborg, his support was fantastic and gave us a boost. Gamers love this. They got a real boost. The noise levels last week were unbelievable. I may be a bit biased, but I felt it was fantastic. It was an important reason for us to reach the victory”.
On what Hearts will need to get past PAOK: “There is no doubt that we will have to reach the same levels of performance as we had with Rosenborg. We will need to raise a little more and I think we are capable of doing it”.
Source: Sport Fm
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