Robbie Neilson insists Michael Beale's previous comments hailing Aberdeen as the third best club in the country is "no skin off our nose".
Rangers boss Beale admitted he made a mistake in his praise of Aberdeen as he corrected his statement to brand Hearts the third best in Scotland.
Beale opened up on his mistake as he admitted he hadn't looked at the league table before the remark.
However, he reached out to Neilson to correct his claim through a mutual friend.
Neilson was unaffected by the remark as he insisted it has had no bearing ahead of the clubs meeting in Scottish Premiership action tonight.
Quizzed on Beale's correction through a mutual contact, Neilson explained: "Yeah, it was just through a friend of a friend.
"Look, everyone is entitled to an opinion and some people will think that we are and some won't.
"Sometimes these stories get blown out of proportion and everyone is desperate for a headline - it's no skin off our nose."
Beale insists there was no disrespect intended in his comments as he saluted the job Neilson has done at Tynecastle in his second spell at the club.
"You need to listen to these words they are the third best team in the country," said Beale. I" know I got a bit of stick for getting that wrong. I sent Robbie a message via a mutual friend straight after because I knew I had made a mistake.
"I honestly hadn't looked at the league table which sounds crazy but I know where my team are in the league, you tell me every week where I am and how many points behind.
"There was no disrespect in that. I think Robbie has done a fantastic job for the second time at Hearts. Playing in Europe has kicked them on as it has done for us. We're seeing that in their performances and it's the strongest Hearts squad I can remember."
On the fixture in the capital tonight, Beale added: "I always like Tynecastle, it's a feisty game. We're looking forward to it."
