HEARTS’ DREAM START
HEARTS keeper Zdenek Zlamal admits the Jambos’ blistering start to the season has been “a dream” as he hailed the camaraderie in the Tynecastle dressing room.
Craig Levein’s side remain five points clear of Edinburgh rivals Hibs at the summit of the Premiership following Saturday’s 2-1 triumph against St Johnstone, while they have progressed to the semi-finals of the Betfred Cup where they will face Celtic.
Zlamal, a summer signing from Fastav Zlin in the Czech Republic, has been key to the club’s early-season success.
The experienced keeper, who turns 33 next month, has kept the ball out of his net in seven of his 13 appearances for Hearts as he has risen to the challenge of replacing Scotland international Jon McLaughlin as Levein’s No.1. And Zlamal is pinching himself as Hearts set the pace in the top flight ahead of this Sunday’s mouthwatering trip to Rangers.
He said: “It has been like a dream for us so far but everybody knows it will be difficult to keep going like this. That is the challenge we face.
“We are all enjoying this start to the season and we have some very important matches coming up.
“We will focus, be a little but humble and try to keep this momentum. But this is a very nice feeling.”
The Hearts juggernaut is all the more impressive due to the fact Zlamal is one of 18 signings made by the club this season, with boss Levein embarking on a complete rebuild of his squad following an underwhelming campaign last term.
Yet there has been a visible sense of togetherness – both in terms of the performance and the evident team spirit.
Zlamal said: “I know the problems that can come from too many changes from my time in Turkey with Alanyaspor.
“Too many new players came in and needed time to settle and that was very tough. This has been so different.
“All of my team-mates are very good guys and it feels like we have been playing together for many years.
“It feels like our home, where we all belong, and I think this has been a big factor in why we have started the season well.”