Steven Naismith wants to ensure his Heart of Midlothian squad realise the opportunity in front of them when they take on Viktoria Plzen in the second leg of the Europa League play-off tie.

The Hearts head coach knows what it is like to play on the European stage and doesn't want his players to let the prospect to reach the Europa League league phase to bypass them.

He also spoke about injuries, conceding goals, what to expect from Viktoria Plzen and more.

Read or listen to everything he said below: 

 

Squad update?

From the weekend, Shanks has got a wee ache in his knee, just a contact injury so we'll see how that one is. Everyone else is fit.

We'll wait and see. The quick turnaround for the games. There's not much training. We'll give it as long as possible and see how he is tomorrow. He reported it after the game, there were a few other bumps and knocks, but he's the only one who missed out yesterday and today on the (training) pitch.

You'd want him for a game of this magnitude and his 100th game for Hearts?

He's been a big player for us. His record in the last two years has been impressive. He's an experienced player. If he doesn't get his 100th appearance tomorrow I'm sure he'll get it soon enough.

How do you address the issues of the last few games?

The goals we are conceding are cheap from my point of view. For me, that's the root of the dynamic of the game changing. You are then chasing it and you concede other goals. The three goals at the weekend are really, really poor from our point of view. We went 41 games from conceding from a wide free-kick and concede two in the one game. Those two goals were really sloppy. The game changes, Motherwell's tactics change. They are comfortable and we need to chase it, we get the goal back and we lose a goal from an individual error and they take the game away from us. That was similar to Dundee. At the moment we are conceding cheaper goals than we have in the past. We work hard on it. We have got some new players. The ones at the weekend, it's Andres and Gerald who drop off the line of the free-kick so that ultimately cost us. But it is a process. You need to make sure your players understand it and are ready for it.

Do you feel the criticism of you from the fans is merited?

When you're not winning games, there's going to be criticism, especially being at a club the size of Hearts. I continuously on about the demand. If you don't win games you will be criticised. That's the case and I'm comfortable with that. But I think we've got a good group of players that can be successful. We need to cut out the soft goals and take more of the chances we're creating. 

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What do you expect from Plzen?

I think it will be a similar game to last week. Even last week, as I called it, it's two teams who when they have the ball will try to work an opportunity. We probably took a wee bit more time than them to settle into the game last week. When we did I thought we caused them problems. We need to be defensively better than we have been. I think last week we were until the very last moment. They have got dangerous players who can cause you problems. The late goal doesn't change the tie that much. We were always going to need to score to go through. As I've said before, against Rosenborg last year we got a setback early in the game but still fought and came out with the result. If we can start well and get the crowd behind us we can have another night like Rosenborg. 

Is there a nervousness about the defence at the moment?

I wouldn't say a nervousness. It is decision making in quick situations. It's the hardest thing for players, especially defenders. You've got a split second to make a decision. Do you go and press, do you drop off, do you cover, do you engage. If you get it wrong you get punished. At this moment in time, we are getting punished. Probably those decisions we make wrong. That's football.

What do you do tomorrow, stick with the same formation, the same goalkeeper?

We will wait and see. We will put a team out that we think will win the game. I think it will be a tight affair. We'll want to be more aggressive at times. But it will be a great night. If we start well the atmosphere will be good. And the chance to get into the Europa League, outwitht the Old Firm doesn't happen that regularly.

Does your confidence take a knock with the goals conceded and the results?

It's actually similar to the start of last season. Dundee away last year, we conceded a cheap goal that cost us a result, St Mirren away was the same. Players that are new to the club, they'll take a bit of time to adapt and they'll make mistakes, they'll have good games but they will ultimately find that level. If they are successful here they will have reached the level, if they've not they won't have been successful. I've got full belief in this squad. We've got a good squad. There's some younger players in there which means they are less likely to get the consistency and that's something you need to build. We did that last season and finished the season off really well, so I've got no doubt this squad can get back to the same levels.

Could the SFA/SPFL help teams in Europe out like the Czechs have done with Viktoria Plzen?

I don't think it is something where you sit and say, 'The SFA or SPFL', it's the members that ultimately make the decision that is the right thing for Scottish football. It is not going to define whether we go through or not. This is something everyone needs to sit down and go right for the better of our game, we all accept it, we don't. As recent history shows, that is not the go-to in Scottish football. It's a bit more individual, each club, each member wants to shelter themselves, protect their assets and what is better for them. That's where we are at. I don't think it is going to change unless everyone sits down and decides this is the right thing for Scottish football.

How big an opportunity is this to kickstart the season? It would be pretty historic.

The reward at the end of this 90 minutes, maybe 120 minutes, is massive. It's very rarely done by teams outwith the Old Firm. We've got a great opportunity. We played them last week and we carried a threat and defended really well until the last action of the game so it's within our grasp. We need to do things better than we have been doing domestically. It could be a fantastic achievement to get there. Like any big club there is pressure to play, to stay on top of teams. It is how you deal with setbacks. We've dealt with them last season very well. I expect the same from them this season.

What can the players take from the Rosenborg game?

It can help the players for a few different reasons. If we do get a setback in the game, it doesn't mean the tie is over, to what we do in the game that gets the crowd involved, all these small details and good memories are what players will remember from previous ties, so I think a few of them will have that in their mind tomorrow.

Do you expect anything different from Plzen?

I don't think they'll change overly. They can change their front three and the set-up of them but I think they play their way and that's the way they play. That's why they've been consistent in Europe because they've got a good understanding of what they want to do.

They have the ability to manage a tie?

It's massively important, especially in Europe, that you don't play the full game the same as the first leg and second leg and you've got to recognise and understand those moments that you can punish them, when you need to sit off and maybe be solid so all that will come into play.

How important is it to start strongly and get in their faces?

Being the home team we do need to do that. It can be such a weapon. If we can get the crowd engaged and behind us, it is a daunting atmosphere. It's a brilliant atmosphere. We've got to use that, we can't let it bypass us. In the last few games where we get a goal back, we've not used that momentum well enough.

Do you feel there is still much more to come from the team as an attacking sense as Dhanda and Spittal find their feet?

They are two of the most creative players in the league last season but playing for Motherwell and Ross County is a different challenge to playing for Hearts because of the way teams set up, the demand. That is going to take time to get your bearings with it and adjust. A few of the new players are still in that area. They have moments that are good and other moments that aren't so good but they are two fantastic players we are happy to have. In the coming weeks and months they will definitely contribute a lot.

If Shankland misses out do you have the strikers to step up to offer a goal threat?

Definitely. This season I think Kenneth has had more shots than Lawrence in all the games but it's about taking them. Boycey has looked sharp in pre-season, he's had to be patient and we've got James Wilson who's young and eager, a big prospect and we want to introduce him to the first team. It's not just the strikers. We need to create good chances. That comes from guys like Blair Spittal, Yan Dhanda and Jorge Grant. There is more to it. We need to create chances, and when they come along we need to take them. Especially in the European ties.

Is James Penrice fit?

Yeah.

Any news on transfers?

Nothing to talk about just now.

How are Beni and Calem Nieuwenhof progressing?

Beni has been back in training but he's not close to being considered for matches. Calem is a wee bit behind him, he's still doing individual stuff on the grass but he's on the grass. Calem is the one we want to make sure he is right so he doesn't break down.

Are you roused by European nights?

They are brilliant. Getting up for European games, there isn't much to get up for. The occasion is great. The quality of the opposition is great. Some of my best memories as a player were in European football. The key is, don't let them bypass you. Ut your imprint on the ties any way, shape or form you can and make the good memories you will remember for the rest of your days.