Christian Borchgrevink has opened up on a “really tough year” at Hearts and his determination to finally establish himself as first-choice right-back under new head coach Wouter Vrancken.
The Norwegian defender has endured a frustrating spell since arriving at Tynecastle, making just two league starts last season and spending long periods out of the side despite being fit. However, a managerial change and a shift in tactical approach have handed the 27-year-old a fresh opportunity.
Speaking in an interview with the Edinburgh Evening News, Borchgrevink admitted confusion surrounded his absence but revealed he was given a clear explanation by former boss Derek McInnes.
“It was a really tough year. It started off all right,” he said. “I started the first game against Aberdeen and then I was unlucky with an injury the week after. I was out for a while and then I felt I was getting somewhere in December. I played a couple of games and felt I did all right, but then I obviously fell out of favour.
“The last six months was the toughest I have experienced for a long, long while. It was a really difficult year, personally.”
Borchgrevink insists fitness was not the issue during his prolonged absence and suggested his style simply did not fit what McInnes wanted from a right-back.
“Yes, I did get an explanation. Of course, he wanted something else out of his right-backs than what I was bringing,” he said. “I was signed before McInnes came in, so I think I was signed for quite a different playing style.
“With Michael doing really well defensively, he wanted more of a physical presence and a defensive-minded right-back. That’s what I got told. It’s hard to take. You can’t really do much about it but he was doing super well with the team.
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“I don’t think people knew why I was out of the squad for so long, but I wasn’t injured. I have been fit for six or seven months.”
The arrival of Vrancken has reset the landscape, with the Belgian favouring more attack-minded full-backs, a role Borchgrevink believes suits him far better.
“It is, absolutely, so I’m obviously very happy with that,” he said. “To get the full potential from me as a player, I am best when I am allowed to go forward and stay on the ball more.
“The new coach is coming in with a different tactical plan. He is going to need his full-backs to be quite fluid, attacking, going both ways, and contributing on the ball quite a bit more than what we did last year.”
Borchgrevink, now wearing his preferred No.2 shirt, admits the change in management has come at the right time as he looks to kickstart his Hearts career.
“I think it would have been difficult if the same management or staff were here because they wanted different things,” he added. “This has been a bit of a reset and a new chance.
“The main thing for me is to get more minutes and hopefully perform. Based on that, then I think we can build.”
With a Champions League qualifier against Sturm Graz on the horizon, the defender is focused on forcing his way into Vrancken’s plans and making up for lost time.
“It’s a big task getting ready for the European game and we don’t have much time,” he said. “It’s been a positive start and we have a couple of weeks to go.”
