Steven Naismith on the biggest Hearts positive from this season

Here's everything the head coach had to say.

That was a bit of a roller-coaster, what’s your reflection on the game?

It was like the last two – I think it was entertaining and enjoyable. If you take the goals out the game our overall performance was good. We controlled lots of the game, we broke their press and we had chances. On the flip of it, if you give good teams half a chance then they will take it and we got punished today. Two of the goals, especially. Good players make good decisions and that’s what they did, and they scored two good goals. We will be feeling hard done by because we felt a bit of control in the game and then it opened up. But I thought that we were never out of it, we still created chances and then we scored a really good goal to get back in it. And then the way it finished is a nice way to finish off what’s been a really good season.

How pleasing is it to see Tagawa scoring and playing more of a part?

I think it’s been really good and I’m pleased for him because it has been tough for him. As a new player coming into the club, the wee breaks sometimes make or break you, and he has probably been on the wrong side of quite a lot of them this season. But in the last week he has shown that he is starting to get on the right side of them. His movement and anticipation for his goal is why we brought him to the club and then it’s an excellent finish.

Do you think he can kick on next season?

Yeah. When you have got a 31-goal scorer in the squad it is going to be hard to dislodge him. But overall, every player in this squad has contributed. There have been tough times for certain individuals but they have always given it their all and that is why we have had a successful season. They have shown that they are all up for the fight.

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How do you reflect on the season overall?

For your first season as a manager, it’s really good. We are comfortable in third and we got to two cup semi-finals. But it is probably more so the progression of the team. From the first game of the season until now we are a much, much better team. The boys have grown and developed, and some of the older boys have taken on responsibility and have started to lead the group. It has been like that all the way through. We have had a calmness in our play and about us as a squad – and that’s why we have consistently been good.

There has been a lot of chat about Craig but Zander showed he is not going just to make up the numbers?

I think both goalies have done all they can to show the manager that they are capable and deserve a place in the squad. I think in the last two games Craigy has had some big, big saves. Today Zander has some big saves. We've got two brilliant goalies. They have both done all they can to put their case forward to get in the squad so time will tell. 

How do you improve?

A similar season domestically, that with the added challenge of being in Europe, that makes it more difficult. But what we've got on our side we've been together a year, the change in how we want to play and what we are trying to do isn't as foreign to the players so we've got that on our side. The demand of European football and competing for third and later stage of the cups, trying to win cups, it's the same challenge short-term. That is the aim and the boys are up for it next season.

How do you do that for Europe, is it as simple as signing more players?

Nah, don't think so. We'll sign some. Some players will move on as naturally happens in football. We'll use some of the academy players, they'll get an opportunity. I think it is the experience of doing it and keeping it fresh. But I think we have done that this season. Most weeks when there has been a tight schedule very rarely have I kept the same XI which puts trust in all the players and gives them an understanding that they are part of it. We'll follow that same route next season.

Could Shankland have done any more to start for Scotland against Germany?

I'm not sure that will play a full part because the three weeks in the training camp is probably the biggest part. Going into it, he can't be in better form. He has answered a lot of questions in the last internationals but the next three weeks are important. The manager sets eyes on all the players on the training pitch each day. Shanks is in brilliant form, full of confidence. At the start of the season, the question was: 'Does he deserve to be in the squad or not?' Now it's: 'Does he deserve to start?' Credit to him for getting himself in that position.

How long do the players have off?

They will get just shy of five weeks off and then come back in. We have a good training schedule booked in to be ready for the start of the season.