Hearts manager Derek McInnes has been talking to the media before his side’s Scottish Premiership clash against Celtic on Sunday.
Here are the best bits from his news conference:
McInnes says Celtic undoubtedly provide the toughest challenge in Scottish football, but insists Hearts are relishing that test and fully believes they can win.
He would have been delighted with the start Hearts have had were he offered it in the summer, but stresses there is a long way to go in the season and wants to maintain “good levels”.
McInnes touched on “smart and strategic” recruitment with Hearts’ net spend being “only a couple of hundred thousand”. He thinks that model means the club will continue to improve.
He calls Jamestown Analytics’ expertise a “godsend” and says he speaks to sporting director Graeme Jones on a daily basis.
McInnes “doesn’t care” what form Celtic are in because of the “top players” throughout their squad.
There is confidence throughout the Hearts squad and McInnes says they aren’t “dependent on one or two players”.
Going eight points clear would be “good shooting”, but he isn’t looking any further than the game itself and says a defeat won’t knock them off course.
McInnes thinks plenty of teams in Scotland are “envious” of Hearts and would love to “slap” them “back down to earth”.
Team news: Ageu is back in training, as is Christian Borchgrevink, who played a bounce game on Tuesday. Ryan Fulton, Finlay Pollock and Frankie Kent are the three absentees.
[BBC]
