TYNECASTLE was as silent as St Giles’ Cathedral last night as the Zurich players took part in a final training session ahead of the second leg of their Europa League play-off against Hearts.
Franco Foda’s players will discover this evening that it was very much the calm before the storm.
The Gorgie ground may not be the largest in Scotland, but when it comes to atmosphere there is no stadium in the country, not Hampden, not Ibrox and not Parkhead, to touch it.
The Hearts supporters who will fill out all four stands tonight are, having seen their beloved club flirt with extinction and suffer a contentious demotion in recent years, rightfully excited at the prospect of watching their heroes face quality continental opposition in a match of such magnitude.
The sell-out crowd which will roar on Robbie Neilson’s charges, who are trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Switzerland last week, from kick off to the final whistle will create a difficult environment for the visitors to perform in and boost the home team’s chances of success hugely.
Can they come from behind and clinch a lucrative place alongside the likes of Arsenal, Dynamo Kyiv, Feyenoord, Manchester United, Lazio, Red Star Belgrade and Roma in the group stages of the competition with such vocal backing? They are hopeful they can.
It promises to be a night to remember whatever transpires.
“It's a different ball game coming back to Tynecastle with a full house,” said Neilson, who will be without centre half Craig Halkett for the rematch with Zurich, yesterday.
“We know tomorrow is going to be tough. They're Swiss champions, they did well against us last week, and they've got something to play for tomorrow.
“But we're in a good place at the moment. The boys are looking forward to it. Coming back here with the fans, the atmosphere, the stadium, we feel we've got a real good chance.
“We have to use it (the atmosphere) to our advantage. Away goals don't count so it's a straight shootout. We're a goal behind so we have to take the game to them.
“I would expect them to try to manage the game and hit us on the counter-attack because they're very good on the counter. We need to make sure we cover that. But we'll have 20,000 fans here and they'll want to see us perform. We want to make sure we start the game well.
“It's probably one of the biggest games I’ve had at Tynecastle. We've had cup finals at the national stadium, but it's massive for us to have this opportunity to get to the group stage of the Europa.”
If Hearts progress in the Europa League it will be something for the whole of Scottish football, not just their followers, to shout about.
Neilson, though, knows that his side have much work to do to avoid suffering the same disappointing fate that so many Premiership teams have in qualifying in seasons gone by having been impressed by Zurich seven days ago.
“Expectation levels at times have been too high,” he said. “We played against the Swiss champions last week, a team with numerous international players. They were very, very good. We are expected to go there and win the game. It can be very difficult to do that when you are playing against these top teams.
“We have to realise where we are as a nation. But we do believe that we can progress and get better. Hopefully the experience the players get in European football helps them. It would be absolutely brilliant for Scottish football (for Hearts to go through), as a nation but obviously individually for the club.”
Neilson, the former Hearts and Scotland defender who is in his second spell in charge at Tynecastle, is pleased the supporters who ensured the club survived their serious financial difficulties have the chance to savour a big European match again.
“It’s probably the biggest driver for us all at the club, from the playing staff to the coaching staff,” he said. “Out of any fans in the world they probably deserve it more than any because they put their hands in their pocket and saved the club.
“Administration, demotion, coming back up again, top six, European football. Last week was brilliant just to see the fans over in Switzerland and hopefully the ones that could not make it enjoy it.
“We’ve got another three trips away and three home games (Hearts will drop into the Conference League if they lose) and we’ve certainly earned it.”
Neilson will look to his captain Craig Gordon, a vastly-experienced European campaigner with both Hearts and Celtic, to lead the younger members of his squad through the 90 minutes.
“Hopefully he’s not called upon too much,” he said. “But, generally, in the build up to the game, he is very calm. He understands the experiences the young ones are having at that point and can help them through it. He has been outstanding.”
