Nautico Recife · Paulista - A1 · Attacker · #72 · Brazil · 28 yrs
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes believes his side can use this season as a springboard once they recover from the hurt of the final day. Hearts were on course to win the Scottish Premiership, drawing 1-1 with Celtic with four minutes to play at Parkhead. "In the cold light of day, when we look back, there's been so much positivity from where we were at the beginning of the season," McInnes said after collecting the Scottish Football Writers' Association manager of the year award.
Derek McInnes insists he is feeling no trepidation for Hearts' title decider at Celtic Park on Saturday and has urged his squad to embrace the "box office" occasion. "I'm not nervous about it, but dealing with nerves is part of professional sport, particularly when it gets to this stage," the Tynecastle boss said.
Former Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas has praised "wise" head coach Derek McInnes and is willing the squad to complete a stunning title triumph. Jankauskas, now the Lithuania national team boss, was part of the Hearts team of 2006 who topped the table after starteing the campaign with an eight-game winning run before going on to finish second, 17 points behind Celtic. The 51-year-old is optimistic about Hearts' chances at Celtic Park on Saturday where the visitors will be crowned champions should they avoid defeat.
Hearts-supporting MP Ian Murray has backed Derek McInnes' side to win the title "the hard way" after Celtic's "gut-wrenching" penalty set up a final-day decider at Parkhead. Kelechi Iheanacho's spot-kick deep in added time - awarded after Sam Nicholson was deemed to have handball the ball from a Celtic throw-in - kept the defending champions a point behind Hearts, who beat Falkirk 3-0. It means Hearts will be crowned Scottish champions for the first time in 66 years only if they avoid defeat at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes says his side are "up against everybody" after a "disgusting" 99th-minute penalty winner for Celtic ensured the Scottish Premiership title race goes to a final-day decider on Saturday.
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes says his side are "up against everybody" after a "disgusting" 99th-minute penalty winner for Celtic ensured the Scottish Premiership title race goes to a final-day decider on Saturday.
