Hearts winger Rogers Mato has declared that the club can mount another title challenge and win the Scottish Premiership this season, insisting last season's near miss was no flash in the pan.
The Jambos agonisingly missed out on ending their 66-year wait for a league title on the final day of the season at Celtic Park. The heartbreak still lingers, but Mato believes the squad can go one better.
"We can do it. Like I said, that's the hope the fans give us. We have to raise that hope again," Mato said. "We have to push ourselves because it's gone now. It's over. We have to think about the future. The future is tomorrow. We have to work hard for it. We're waiting for the league champions."
New Era Under Vrancken
The departure of manager Derek McInnes and captain Lawrence Shankland to Rangers has been a blow, but new head coach Wouter Vrancken has arrived and is looking to help the Gorgie side kick on again. Mato is impressed with the new boss and his coaching staff.
"Everything's good, everyone's happy. The manager is happy, the players are happy and everyone's working hard to impress the manager," Mato added. "It's a new manager and new players have arrived. They have to work hard to get to the starting level."
Vrancken wants Hearts to play more football than last season, and Mato reckons that will benefit the team. The squad has a new-look with several new signings, and the team returns from their pre-season training camp in Spain ready to go.
Turning Hurt into Positive
The Ugandan international admitted how last season unfolded was hard to take, but it is something those who remain must turn into a positive. "The despair was there. Everyone was sad and it was a sad time. Like I said in my last interview at home, we gave the fans hope," he said.
"So we can't lose hope. We have to fight again. Last time they gave us 110 per cent, this time we have to give 150 per cent. We give the fans hope, so we can't let them down. We can't let ourselves down. Football is a 24-hour game. If you miss out today, you don't have to cry. We cried for 24 hours but then you have to recover because there is another game coming."
Personal Frustration and Adaptation
For Mato personally, his first six months at Tynecastle was a time of frustration. He made the move from Vardar in January but struggled to get regular game time under McInnes. The 22-year-old admitted they spoke a couple of times about his lack of minutes.
"He was a good manager. We spoke a couple of times and he would tell me why I wasn't playing when he needed me, but I was still training. I was training at 100 per cent every time. Of course, as a footballer you have to be disappointed, but that's football," Mato said.
"When you come into a new style of play, because the style of football I played in Scotland and Macedonia was different, I had to adapt. The team was doing well. I wasn't that disappointed, but the team was doing well. I was happy with that; we almost won it. I was happy with that. I was going to be a legend."
Champions League Dream
Hearts' short-term focus is now on the Champions League. They kick off the competitive action away to Sturm Graz in the qualifiers. Mato is desperate to make his mark in that competition, having scored three goals in four European appearances for Vardar in the Conference League.
"It's very big. It's a dream that comes to mind. I dream of playing in the Champions League. I played my first Conference League match of the season. It was my Conference debut. By the grace of God, I scored three goals," he claimed.
"I'm very excited to play in the Champions League. I hope we can win the matches and go to the group stage with Hearts. That would be incredible."
It is a challenge for new boss Vrancken to get his team up to speed, but Mato knows they must be ready for their trip to Austria. "Yes, we have to be ready every time. We don't have much time. We have to be ready every time. As you can see, the boss is trying to do everything possible to get all the players, all the players at the club and the coaching staff ready. We, the players and the coaching staff are ready," he warned.
Mato added: "Last year was a tough time for me personally. I came to Scottish football for the first time. I had some disadvantages, but now it's a good start. New energy, new manager, new coaching staff. I feel good to start again. I can't wait for the new season."
