Derek McInnes interview: The Headlines

Derek McInnes sat down with Hearts TV to talk about the current break in the schedule, the fans, injuries and the remaining nine matches of the Premiership season. 

 

The interview is available to watch in full on YouTube and Hearts TV but supporters can read some of the headlines below. 

 

With the trip to Dubai cancelled, how does the training schedule now look for the players this week?

 

“That was a wee bit disappointing, when we woke up on Saturday morning, but it was obviously inevitable with what's going on in the world that we wouldn't be getting out there.

 

“It wasn't mentioned before the game and the game was the focus, but you've just got to adjust to it. It was something that we were looking forward to, but equally this week, decent weather here in Edinburgh and we're just getting on with the normal training week that we would have had. The lads have got the weekend off, they’ve been good as gold and it allows us to adjust."

 

Have all the players come through Saturday injury-free?

 

“Yes, everybody was fine. No injuries from the game. Obviously, the injuries have been well documented. 

 

“Everybody said that the squad was too big, but it doesn't feel too big at the minute. Everybody's playing their part. I think we've had some big performances throughout the season from the lads here. But I think a special mention for Blair Spittal and Jamie McCart over the last couple of games.

 

“Having not played a lot of football this season, they've come in and played a big part in a couple of good victories. So, these are the types of things you need over the course of the season, because nothing is straightforward. We had it quite straightforward for a period where it was the same team, more or less, playing every week.

 

“But you know that throughout the season, you're going to be challenged. And there's no doubt that this has been a challenging period with injuries, but we seem to be coming through it, thankfully.”

 

How much did you enjoy Tynecastle, the way it was on Saturday, with Colin Chisholm really getting the fans hyped up before the match and setting the tone? 

 

“You’re never really sure about these things when they're suggested to you, and you think, well, how will that go? But it was brilliant. He thoroughly enjoyed it, the way the fans engaged with it. Obviously, I enjoyed it and I thought it played a big part in just getting the fans going a wee bit and he sung it brilliantly.

 

“Tynecastle again on Saturday was exactly how I wanted it to be. If I could imagine Tynecastle, when I first arrived at the club, my first day, at the press conference, and I'm thinking, I want my players to enjoy turning up at Tynecastle.

 

“You cannot be a successful team if you're not enjoying playing at home. I don't want my players having any trepidation about playing in front of the supporters. And likewise, I need the supporters to want to come to Tynecastle to see the team and not have any nervousness about watching the team.

 

“The stakes have raised a wee bit over the course of the season. It's understandable to be nervous, but I think the message is clear. The fans have got their part to play. I'm not going to dilute that message. That message is strong. We've got to do everything we can because of where we are in the league, we've got to use everything we've got.” 

 

You’ve spoken previously about Tynecastle being as homely as possible for the players, that’s where on Saturday, the flags and banners around Gorgie all feed into that?

 

“It might just seem like a small gesture, but for everybody involved, for the fans who took the time to do all that and are always trying to come up with something, it's recognition.

 

“When I'm parking my car in the staff car park and I see the flags and I see the messages and the banners, I know how it makes me feel, so I know how that makes the players feel.

 

“Anything like that can only help the players feel as if I was behind them. It's support and praise that my players need at this moment in time. The supporters have got a part to play in that and all that will help, no doubt about it.”

 

What’s the latest on the injury situation?

 

“We’ll have Oisin back for Kilmarnock, definitely. He's training just now, doing non-contact stuff with us at the minute. But he'll train fully next week.

 

“Cammy has taken a step forward in the last couple of days. He had a little injection on Friday, just to try and clear a little bit of irritation. I think that's helped. Cammy seems to think he's got a chance for Kilmarnock. It'll probably be more likely Dundee. But while he's got that in his head, we're not going to rule that out for him at the minute.

 

“So, it'll be good to have Oisin back and even better if Cammy can make himself available for that. Then you'll start to get Kingsley and Lawrence back maybe before the Dundee game.”

 

Some people are saying it’s now or never for Hearts, with regards to potentially winning a league title, what’s your view on that?

 

“I understand people saying that. But I don't think that's factually correct to be honest. We feel as if we're only going to get better as we go along. Hopefully this becomes the norm. 

 

“We're up against two heavyweights in particular. We have Rangers and Celtic who have got huge advantages over clubs like ourselves. There's a lot of good teams in the league. I think there are a lot of well-managed teams.

 

“I think from Hibs, Falkirk and Motherwell. Teams who have got good managers and good teams and do what they can with their budgets. We've just got to try and utilise our budget the best we can.

 

“I think what we've got is the confidence that every transfer window will improve. Hopefully that's something that becomes quite normal for us. Rather than once every 40-odd years, challenging for a title.

 

“I think any team can win a cup. I’m not diluting that, but you can win five games and win a cup. The evidence shows how difficult it is to win a league in Scotland. When you're up against the wealth and the size of Rangers and Celtic.

 

“It pleases me that we're still relevant at this stage. It pleases me that we've been top of the league for so long. Regardless of how the season plays out, we'll be really pleased with our work. But now, where we are, we're in a league with so few games to go. It's important we try and maximise this opportunity.” 

 

With nine games to go, how much is everybody relishing the opportunity that they’ve created for themselves?

 

“The players deserve so much credit. A lot is made of the recruitment. Recruitment is vitally important to any club. But the players are the ones that need to go over the line and produce under all sorts of different challenges. 

 

“I speak to the players often enough. We work with them closely. We see them day in and day out. We're not really seeing any real change. We're just as we were. Just keep doing what we're doing. 

 

“If we can recognise the opportunities there, which I think we do, then let's just see where it takes us. I feel that we're in a good place. We feel comfortable where we are. But we know that the business end of the season is still ahead of us.

 

“It's important we get down that final straight in the best form as possible. I think for me, the biggest thing is just to try and knuckle down and concentrate on performance. Because that will be the biggest indicator if we can win enough games.

 

"Nine games to go, a lot can happen. It's still almost a quarter of the season remaining. There's 27 points to win, but there's also 27 points to lose for teams. I do think there will be some twists and turns. Hopefully, as I say, we just do our job well enough.”

 

You can watch Derek’s interview in full on our YouTube as well as Hearts TV.