Steven Naismith may have a playing past with Everton. But I hope he plus Frankie McAvoy watched Liverpool and took huge inspiration.
Seeing Jurgen Klopp ’s team somehow nick a 2-1 win over Newcastle three days ago screamed of a template for Hearts in Greece. This is going to be a night for the players to stand tall, dig, fight and scrap. Whatever it takes and whatever is needed just to hang in there because, if you do, moments can arrive and an unlikely success can be secured.
There are going to be difficult spells. It is going to be an awful shift at times... torturous. Hearts are going to have periods when they are under pressure, passages of play where it will be just work, work and work. You can be running from one side to another then back again in sweltering heat and it appears thankless. But if you can do it, you can get a result.
You just had to watch that game at St James’ Park to see it. I still feel Hearts can turn this play-off tie around, even though you have to be realistic and admit PAOK were decent at Tynecastle and are likely to be even stronger at home.
Hearts made chances and had opportunities but there’s no getting away from the fact it’s going to be an uphill task. The biggest thing is that PAOK kept the ball better and were more comfortable on it.
It’s going to be even harder to hustle them out their stride on their own pitch. There’s a style about European football. You hear people talk all the time about differences and it is correct, yet sometimes you can be caught up in things.
“You need to do this... you need to do that... you need to cope with the atmosphere.” All true but you also just need to fight and find a way.
Liverpool weren’t scared to ditch the smooth look and roll up the sleeves.
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