Derek McInnes has asked his players to enjoy the next few days, as we enter the final two matches of an incredible season for the Jambos.
Hearts welcome Falkirk to Tynecastle tomorrow night, a ground in which they are yet to taste defeat at all season and the head coach admits full focus is on the match he describes as a ‘final’.
Certain results could see the Jambos crowned Champions tomorrow night, but that is not in the mind of McInnes, who is fully focused on events at Tynecastle.
Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference, he said:
“We have a fantastic opportunity. It's going to be a really important five or six days ahead of us, but I think it's important that we try and enjoy it. We feel as though we're in good form.
“For us, it's just complete focus on Falkirk tomorrow night. The game needs our full attention. I know I'll probably get asked a lot of questions regarding the weekend and things like that, but for us, this isn't a semi-final ahead of a final, it's a final for us tomorrow.
“It's important that we have the concentration on Falkirk because they're a good side and they've caused teams a lot of problems this season. We've just got to try and concentrate on that and hopefully pick up another three points.
“I've been pleased with the form of the team. We knew going into the split that we had Motherwell to play before we went into the post-split fixtures. So, playing Motherwell, Hibs, Rangers, Motherwell again to come out with 10 points for 12, we're really pleased with that kind of form.
“That's not easy to produce and we just need to try and produce another couple of big results between now and the end of the season.
“I think it’s [the message] been pretty consistent throughout as expectations rise. We've been top of the league now for a while. People talk about mentality and how they cope, but I think the facts show we're coping brilliantly.
“For us, we've already broken a club record in terms of a points tally. A win tomorrow against Falkirk would get us to 80 points and that's brilliant shooting. The fact we've got Champions League qualification already secured, but obviously we want to try and go one better now and win the league.
“I believe, and I have believed for a while, that we've got a team that's capable of winning the league. Just that unshakable belief in what we're doing. We have to overcome difficulties with injuries and the like, but every team has to deal with that.
“I feel as though we take confidence. We have been trying to hold off a couple of heavyweights for a long time now. We've managed to see off Rangers at the minute, and we've got to try and see off Celtic over the next two games.
“Our first port of call is to try and see off Falkirk and that's important for us just to focus on that one.”
The Jambos lost Craig Halkett and Marc Leonard at Fir Park on Saturday night and the head coach provided an update on both:
“Both Mark and Craig got operated on in London yesterday morning. Both Achilles ruptures and significant injuries, both about 7-9 months probably. We managed to set up a scan and an appointment with the expert down in London. Both lads flew down Sunday afternoon for their operation yesterday morning.
“Both are travelling back up. Mark will travel to Birmingham today and Craig will come back to Glasgow with a physio. So, terrible news.
“That's the kind of hangover a wee bit after the game as well. Two very important players for us, two really popular lads having to deal with a significant injury. We've had to deal with that through a lot of the season and any of the lads who have come in as replacements have never let us down.
“We feel that's going to be the case this time around as well. We've got players who will come in and do the job for us. I've got an unshakable belief that we can do this and I believe the squad feel that as well.
“It's an extra wee bit of motivation for us if we needed any more, that two boys, two players who have played a big part have suffered really. It's unusual. Achilles injuries, I've never known anything like it two in one game.”
There was a more positive update regarding Harry Milne and Cammy Devlin.
“Both are available for tomorrow. We're at a stage of the season where they might not be as perfect as they want to be considering they've been out.
“Harry's been out a wee bit longer. Both lads have been running and doing a lot of work, but both are available to start. We just need to try and manage those minutes a wee bit over the two games.”
You can watch Derek’s press conference in full on Hearts TV.
