Heart of Midlothian head coach Derek McInnes has given his first interview since narrowly missing out on the Scottish Premiership title.
McInnes' side were within minutes of creating history at Celtic Park, after Lawrence Shankland had given them the lead in the first half.
After winning the Scottish Football Writers’ Association William Hill Manager of the Year, McInnes reflected positively on the campaign, but admitted Hearts will also have a 'grievance' over how things ultimately unfolded.
"In the cold light of day when we look back there’s been so much positivity from where we were at the beginning of the season," he said.
"You always start a season with hope and expectation and I think we’ve exceeded all of that this season.
"So the intention now is to dust ourselves down and try and enjoy our break but be ready for the challenges ahead.
"I fully believe that those challenges are going to be met, with the enthusiasm from everybody at the club, the desire to improve and go on and try and be the norm for us to be challenging and trying to be competing for trophies on a more regular basis.
"I firmly believe that those expectations will be met as we go on.
"So I think this season’s gave us so much encouragement for us to reach 80 points, be involved in the Champions League qualifiers coming up in July, a club record and so many positives from the campaign.
"We’ll look back and enjoy it but we’ll also have that kind of grievance at times and that disappointment to try and spur us on to something greater."
Derek McInnes spoke to the Scottish Football Writers’ Association after being named as William Hill Manager of the Year. pic.twitter.com/VMzUTeVaSi
— Scottish Football Writers’ Association (@scottishfwa) May 17, 2026
Hearts finished second in the Scottish top flight and will enter the second round of Champions League qualifying this summer.
"There will be more expected of us next season and rightly so," McInnes added. "But I do think it will give us even more belief and confidence with what we’re doing.
"I think the team’s played with a real attitude to win this season which really has been demonstrated so often and that pleases me no end and we have to be that and a wee bit more again if we can go and try and lift silverware.
"Hopefully we’ve given enough encouragement to so many other teams of what can be done.
"But I think if your whole club is operating well from top to bottom and we’ve got that at the minute, we’re still not awash with money and we have to use what we’ve got wisely, but I think what we have got is expertise, plenty of enthusiasm and a real desire to drive the club on.
Read more:
"So with all that in the mix then we’re hopeful and confident that we can keep progressing.
"Even saying we have Champions League football to come, it feels brilliant just being involved in that and we’ll look forward to it when it comes around.
"It’s important we have a rest over the summer but we also need to be busy and try to help the squad deal with those sort of games and we’ll be determined when the game comes around, the Champions League qualifier, to try and make the most of that.
"I mean it’s obviously a long way into the Champions League from where we are but we’re in it anyway and we’re in the fight so I think it’ll be exciting for the club when that date comes around."
