Football - UEFA Champions League - League Phase - Liverpool FC v PSV Eindhoven LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool s Hugo Ekitike walks off with an injury during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda LIVERPOOL Anfield MERSEYSIDE ENGLAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex P2025-11-26-Liverpool_PSV-65
Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has admitted his side were underdone after suffering a heavy two-legged Champions League elimination at the hands of Sturm Graz.
The Jambos conceded six goals across the tie, losing the first leg 4-0 before second half goals from Simon Seidl and Emran Soglo compounded their misery at Tynecastle.
It stands as the heaviest European defeat across two legs in the club’s history, representing a painful benchmark for the newly assembled squad.
Vrancken has had only a month to work with his players since replacing Derek McInnes in Gorgie, and that short preparation window was clearly reflected on the pitch.
The Belgian coach pointed to the difference in preseason preparation between the two clubs as a significant factor in the outcome of the tie.
He said: “I think it’s two times a bit the same. First half hour, both games actually good. And then the first 15 minutes or so from second half.”
Vrancken added: “You cannot hide it, especially not on that level. And until then it was good.”
Hearts carved out opportunities in both legs but failed to convert, with Claudio Braga leading the line in the second leg as the club’s lack of a natural centre-forward became increasingly apparent.
Despite the scoreline, Vrancken insisted he was not alarmed by the failure to score, pointing to sharpness and physical conditioning as the missing ingredients rather than a structural problem.
He said: “I’m not worried because again, the sharpness is an important thing and you have to have the physical volume, there’s a base of where the intensity comes from.”
The manager added: “When you see the first hour, let’s call it like this, two games, then I’m confident in the way they want to play or the way the guys play that will come and will be better and even improve.”
Vrancken also pushed back when asked whether Scottish football should feel embarrassed by its continued failure to reach European group stages.
He said: “We play against a side who is comfortable in group stages in Europe. So for sure, it’s not an easy game there and like I said, three weeks against six weeks against this experienced team, it’s a lot of difference.”
Hearts now drop into the Europa League qualifying rounds, where they will face either Swiss side St Gallen or Portuguese giants Benfica in their next continental assignment.
Before that European date arrives, the club must first navigate Saturday evening’s Scottish Premiership opener away at Pittodrie against Aberdeen.
The squad has been dealt an injury blow with Stephen Kingsley hobbling off before half time at Tynecastle with a hamstring problem, while Alexandros Kyziridis also departed with cramp in the second half.
New signing Laurent Mendy could come into midfield contention, though Vrancken acknowledged the Frenchman has been training individually and has not yet built up full team session rhythm.
Vrancken said: “With Kings, we have to see, because he has also the history so we have to be careful with this.”
The manager will be hoping both players recover in time to give him more options as Hearts look to bounce back from a chastening European campaign with a positive league start.
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