NafisaRangers have booked their place in the Premier Sports Cup final against Hibernian, but the man who will be watching from the opposite dugout is not the only Hearts figure with something to say after Sunday’s dramatic semi-final.
Wouter Vrancken was left disappointed after watching his side surrender an early lead and lose 2-1 to their Edinburgh rivals at Hampden. However, the Hearts manager also had to deal with another damaging injury crisis that he believes played a major part in the outcome.
His side had started brightly, with Claudio Braga putting Hearts ahead, but the match changed dramatically after Tomas Magnusson and Calvin Miller were both forced off before the 38th minute.
For Rangers manager Derek McInnes, the result means his team will face Hibs in the final on December 13. But Vrancken’s explanation of what happened at Hampden also offers a reminder of the squad he has been trying to build at Hearts and the difficulties he has faced in getting the best out of it.
The Hearts boss believes his team had been in control before the injuries disrupted their rhythm, leaving supporters to wonder what might have happened had he been able to keep his strongest available players on the pitch.
Vrancken explains how Hearts lost control against Hibs
Hearts entered the semi-final already missing eight first-team players, making the availability of their remaining squad particularly important.
Despite those problems, they made an encouraging start and took the lead through Claudio Braga. Vrancken felt his players were finding the right spaces, winning second balls and controlling important areas of the contest.
However, Magnusson’s departure following a head knock was followed by Miller’s withdrawal with what appeared to be a knee injury.
The two substitutions left Hearts struggling to maintain the structure that had given them an early advantage.
Speaking after the match, Vrancken admitted:
“I’m really sore and disappointed, of course, especially when you see how the game was going. It didn’t have to go that way because we had control with how we started.
“But it changed the moment Tomas was injured, that’s clear. And then afterwards with Cal.
“I’m not pointing out the guys who came out, but those changes took us out of our rhythm.
“We lost some connections and weren’t top in the duels. At first, we were picking up second balls and finding the right spaces.
“But then we lost those profiles and we were searching again. There were hesitations and that gave Hibs too much space.”
Hibs took advantage, with Martin Boyle equalising before Jamie McGrath scored the decisive goal to send David Gray’s side into the final.
Rangers avoid facing a Hearts side that could have gone further
The result means McInnes will now lead Rangers into the Hampden final against Hibs rather than facing his former club.
However, Vrancken’s comments underline how much the injuries affected Hearts’ ability to compete during the semi-final.
The manager believes the decisive period came after his two players were forced off, explaining that the changes disrupted the connections and understanding between those remaining on the pitch.
“You lose the game in that 20 minutes. At half-time, we tried to make adjustments, be clear and try to take those hesitations out.
“It was much better and we dominated the game again.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t get rewarded. The players have taken a lot of knocks mentally and emotionally so you just hope they get rewarded for fighting hard.
“It’s a pity they didn’t especially in such a game.”
Hearts improved after the interval, but their response was not enough to overturn the damage done before half-time.
For McInnes, the immediate focus will be preparing Rangers for the final. Vrancken, meanwhile, will be left reflecting on a missed opportunity and the impact of the injuries that disrupted his plans.
Hearts boss provides worrying injury updates
The situation surrounding Magnusson is particularly concerning.
Vrancken confirmed that the midfielder had been taken to hospital after suffering a head knock. Although he initially passed the concussion assessment on the pitch, the manager noticed that he was struggling to remain steady.
“I haven’t seen Tomas because he’s at hospital,” Vrancken explained.
“With Tomas, the medical staff did a concussion test on the pitch at that moment.
“He passed it but when he came to me, he was going from left to right and couldn’t stand on his legs any more.
“When I saw that, there was no doubt in my head about letting him back on the pitch. He said, I can’t do it.”
Miller’s condition is also uncertain, with the player leaving Hampden wearing a brace.
“Calvin is in a brace, but it’s difficult to say. We have to wait for a scan tomorrow.”
The results of those examinations will be important in determining how long Hearts could be without the pair.
Vrancken faces major challenge ahead of Thun clash
The injury problems have created another headache for Vrancken ahead of Thursday’s Conference League trip to Switzerland to face Thun.
Hearts are already dealing with a lengthy list of absentees, and the manager admitted that he may have to use players outside their natural positions.
“I don’t know how I make changes. We’ll see how it goes and who’s fit.
“Players will have to play out of position, so we’ll see who has the quality to play in certain ones.
“We have to make the puzzle on Monday or Tuesday.”
He also revealed that Hearts currently have 10 players unavailable, despite believing the squad has enough quality to compete in the Premiership.
The manager insisted that his players must continue taking responsibility, regardless of the difficulties surrounding the team.
A missed opportunity for Vrancken and Hearts
The disappointment at Hampden was not simply about losing the opportunity to lift the Premier Sports Cup.
Vrancken admitted that the biggest frustration was missing the chance to beat their rivals and reach the final, particularly after seeing how well his team started the match.
“Everyone is disappointed, no matter the situation we’re in.
“When you see the second half, you know there was something in the game today even with the knocks we got.
“So, the disappointment is really big, not about losing players, but missing the chance to beat your rivals and go to the final.”
Rangers will now prepare to face Hibs for the trophy, while Hearts must turn their attention towards recovering their injured players and getting their European campaign back on track.
Whether Vrancken’s squad can maintain its earlier momentum once the injury situation improves remains to be seen. But his explanation makes clear why he believes Hearts had a genuine opportunity to reach the final before circumstances changed the contest.
McInnes has his Hampden date secured. Vrancken, meanwhile, is left wondering what might have happened had he been able to keep his players fit for the full 90 minutes.
Nafisa
