Sabri Guendouz is adamant Hearts can come alive if they stick to Wouter Vrancken’s plan. The Belgian boss leads his side into Sunday's clash with Dundee United having lost all of his opening four matches in charge at Tynecastle.
Vrancken suffered the heaviest setback so far as the Jambos were lashed 6-1 in Lisbon by Benfica on Thursday and his team must pick themselves up instantly for the visit of Jim Goodwin’s troops. However, Guendouz says, unlike what transpired in Portugal, the key to success is sticking precisely to the Hearts gaffer’s instructions.
Guendouz: Follow the plan
Citing the feelings in the dressing-room after the Benfica battering and what can be done to get a morale-lifting first victory on to the board this term, the Frenchman explained: “The first step is to play good, to play with the plan of the coach. And after we do that, step by step, I have confidence we will get to where we want to go. Every game you win, you take confidence from. But now we need confidence. We have lost every game so far.
“When we follow the plan, the team are good. If we win against Dundee United it will be good for our heads, for our feelings. It will help our confidence and it will be good for the preparation for the next game against Benfica and the next games in the league after that. This is just the beginning. It has been difficult with the preparation we have had and the short time we have had to work with the manager. But now the season has started and we have to start winning games.”
Why it's tough
Asked why the squad were finding it tough to carry out the instructions at the moment, Guendouz expanded: “Because the plan of the coach is different to the style of Scottish football. The coach likes to play football and we are learning the details and in training, in the preparation games, we play good and I am playing well. But, when I play in the big team, it’s different. It’s very fast. The players are different, they have a lot of more experience.
“But the plan of the coach is to play football, take a risk, take the responsibility, win our duels, show our character and, for me, we need this to play the football we want to play. This is a big situation now. We lost the first league game at Aberdeen, now we have a big game at home. We will give our best to go and get that first win. It would be good for the confidence of the coach, the team and all the players. We have just started the league and I am hungry for more. It’s good.”
Positive from the bench
Guendouz had a positive impact from the bench in Lisbon when his neat interplay at the edge of the Benfica box with Blair Spittal opened the opportunity for Tom Renaud to score at the Estadio da Luz. But, otherwise, it was a miserable experience for the squad and he said: “It’s difficult because we didn’t carry out the plan of the coach. And, when that happens, it is difficult when you play against a team this good.
“I respect this club [Benfica]. They are a big club. I watched them on TV when I was young but, when you are on the pitch, it’s 11 against 11. You need character and hunger to be able to compete and to get wins. It’s the same for yourself when you are in the game, you try to be the best in yourself. And when you don’t carry out the plan of the coach, it’s difficult. But this is life.
“I see this team going forward, I have confidence in the team. The plan continues and the progression continues. We’ll be okay. The loss [in Lisbon] is a bad feeling. But for me, personally, it’s good. It’s a dream to play in this stadium. When I play I try to show the best of myself. I don’t have limits. I play for the team, for the coach, myself, my family. I’m grateful for the chance.”
