SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - APRIL 4: Patson Daka of Salzburg during the tipico Bundesliga match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz at Red Bull Arena on April 4, 2021 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Chris Bauer/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)
Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has called on his side to show courage in Austria and take a significant step toward a long-awaited Champions League return.
The Belgian takes charge of his first competitive match tomorrow night in the second qualifying round, with Hearts making their first Champions League appearance in 20 years.
Vrancken has handed Harry Milne the captaincy for the tie, representing one of his most significant early decisions since taking the job at Tynecastle.
Summer signing Amadou Ba-Sy could also feature after being recalled to the UEFA squad in a late change that came at the expense of Rogers Mato.
The 6ft 3in striker, who joined from FC Rouen for €200,000, made an immediate impression by scoring twice in the 2-1 friendly win over Rayo Vallecano on Friday.
Ba-Sy had missed the early part of pre-season through illness and had just 45 minutes of action before netting his debut double against the Conference League runners-up.
Vrancken said of the decision to reinstate him: “When you saw him in the Rayo game, I think when you play your first 45 minutes after a few weeks of training and have that much impact, it would have been a mistake on my side to leave Amadou out.”
The Hearts boss was characteristically composed in his pre-match assessment, insisting his side must stay focused on the immediate task rather than looking ahead to what a positive result could deliver.
He said: “We’re as ready as possible. Everybody has worked hard to come here and to be here. I know we’ll give our best tomorrow.”
Vrancken added: “It’s very important that we show guts from the start and don’t think about other qualifiers or the next round. Just stay in the moment, go full out and give everything on the pitch.”
Victory over Sturm Graz across two legs would set up a third qualifying round meeting against either Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze, while also guaranteeing a £5million Europa League league phase spot as a fallback.
Milne steps into the captaincy role due to the absence of injured Craig Halkett, with Stephen Kingsley, Jamie McCart, and Blair Spittal forming the new leadership group at the club.
The reshaped hierarchy follows the departures of Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin, and Frankie Kent, as well as Craig Gordon’s retirement from football.
Vrancken was candid about the captaincy order, saying: “The club captain is Craig Halkett. Then it’s Kingsley, then Harry, then Jamie, and then Spittal. That’s the order, so now you know.”
Sturm Graz are no strangers to Scottish opposition, having beaten Rangers at the Merkur Arena last season before exiting the Europa League after losing to Celtic in Glasgow.
Vrancken acknowledged the threat posed by the Austrians, describing them as a team built on intensity, physicality, and pressure, with several quality individuals capable of causing problems.
He said: “When we have quality on the ball, we can do good things. We don’t have to put ourselves into trouble. But again, we know what’s coming. It’s on us to find the solutions and to show our quality from the start.”
Hearts will be backed by 1,300 supporters inside the Merkur Arena, and Vrancken drew inspiration from the atmosphere generated during Friday’s friendly at Tynecastle.
He said: “It’s just incredible and amazing to see how many people have come here to support us.”
Vrancken’s only previous Champions League experience came in a penalty shootout defeat to Servette at the same qualifying stage three years ago, making this tie a fresh opportunity to make history with his new club.
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