Wouter Vrancken has challenged Hearts to seize their third and final chance to secure European league phase football by overcoming Rapid Vienna.
After losing Champions League and Europa League qualifiers against Sturm Graz and Benfica respectively this summer, the Jambos must win their Conference League play-off over the next week if they are to prolong their continental adventure.
“It’s very important,” said Vrancken, who passed up guaranteed European main phase involvement with former club Sint-Truiden, who are currently in the Europa League play-off round, to move to Tynecastle in June.
“Everybody wants to play in Europe in those league phases. Every coach, every player wants to be part of it and for the club it’s also important.
“Also financially probably, but this is something for other people. But I think the sporting side of it, every player, every coach wants to play as far as possible in Europe.
“It’s our last chance to reach the league phase, so we have to go all in to try to get there.”
Vienna have scored 29 goals in eight competitive games this season and arrive at Tynecastle on the back of an 8-0 home win over Grazer AK in the league at the weekend.
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It is the second time Hearts have encountered Austrian opposition this term after losing 6-0 on aggregate to Sturm last month.
“Rapid are a good team,” Vrancken said ahead of Thursday’s first leg at Tynecastle. “When you compare them with Sturm Graz, then they want to also press high, they have a strong pressure style.
“But I think on the ball they are better, or different, let’s say, better in combinations. Always when you play in Europe, especially when you’re on the unseeded side, you always draw good teams, so we have to be top level tomorrow.”
Hearts are unbeaten in their last three matches – against Dundee United, Benfica and Inverness – after losing each of their first four this term. Vrancken is confident his team are now in a better place to contend with Rapid than they were when facing their Austrian Bundesliga rivals in their opening two matches.
“The players are always going to the limit and I cannot ask more of them,” said Vrancken. “But it’s normal that every game you play you make steps and you see some improvements and we have to try to keep always making the extra steps.
“Against a good side like Rapid Vienna, it’s a good way to show how far we are and how good we are at the moment and that we can compete on that level.”
Vrancken is not anticipating any notable changes to his squad, with Harry Milne still struggling and Laurent Mendy having an outside chance of returning to the squad.
The Jambos are close to signing JJ Williams from Rhode Island but Vrancken was coy on when he expects the 28-year-old American forward to be available for selection. “It’s happening in the background from me, so I’m just focusing on the players here now,” said the Belgian.
