Zurich's summer of strife shouldn't fool Hearts if Europa League playoff clash comes to fruition

FC Zurich have had to deal with a summer of strife after losing their manager and top scorer.

The Swiss outfit are potential Europa League playoff opponents for Hearts after being paired with the Jambos in yesterday’s draw. Robbie Neilson's men await the outcome of the third qualifying round tie between Zurich and Northern Irish champions Linfield. The winners will host the capital club later this month before the return leg at Tynecastle for a place in the group stage of the competition.

The Gorgie boys have retained most of their main men after cruising to third place in the Scottish Premiership last season, while going all the way to the Scottish Cup final in a run that guaranteed them European group stage football until at least November. Craig Gordon, Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley, Barrie McKay, Michael Smith and Peter Haring all penned new deals, with only John Souttar opting to move on at the end of his contract, joining Rangers.

It’s a different story for Zurich, however. Winning the Swiss title meant previous boss Andre Breitenreiter was a man in demand. He was poached by Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim in May. He was replaced by Franco Foda. The German left his role with the Austrian national team after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Foda was in the dugout as Scotland won 1-0 in Vienna last September thanks to a Lyndon Dykes penalty. He announced his resignation just before the Scots returned for a friendly in March.

Perhaps of more interest to Hearts fans is the sale of last season’s top scorer Assan Ceesay. The Gambian international struck 22 times in 35 appearances. He was second only to Young Boys’ Thomas Siebatcheu in the race for the Swiss Super League’s Golden Boot.

But his antics in front