I HOPE HOOPS ARE ZAPPED
FROM BACK PAGE weekend after shocking the Scottish champions thanks to Kyle Lafferty’s winner at Tynecastle in August.
Premiership leaders Hearts go into Sunday’s Betfred Cup semi-final full of confidence after stretching their lead at the top to six points with Tuesday night’s victory over Dundee.
But MacLean now hopes rivals Celtic endure a torrid, energy-sapping night in their Europa League clash with RB Leipzig to give them the edge at Murrayfield.
He said: “Sunday’s a massive tie and winning the other night keeps the momentum going.
“It gives us an extra bit of confidence. We’re going well. We had injuries and a lot of people said that was us done, so it’s good to prove them wrong. And now it’s about keeping the run going.
“We’ve beaten Celtic already this season so there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.
“Obviously they’ve picked up since then and scored 10 goals in their last two games but we’ve got belief.
“We’ve got a bit about us, boys who can score goals, so we’re looking forward to it.
“Hopefully Celtic lose tonight and lose a bit of confidence and we’ll see what happens on Sunday!
“Of course, you want all Scottish teams in Europe to do well but I hope they have a hard game as that can help us.
“If we’ve got something we can hold on to and they’re pushing and we know we can go the distance then we can make it hard for teams.
“We can go toe-to-toe and fight with teams but we can play a bit as well.
“The goals are coming from all over the team with different people chipping in.”
Hearts have surpassed all expectations since the season got underway and MacLean credits the trusted methods of boss Craig Levein.
The former Scotland manager is revelling in being back in the Jambos dugout for the second time in his career.
MacLean said: “The boys have taken to what the gaffer wants and he has to take a lot of credit on the recruitment side.
“We’ve all bought in to what he wants. It was well documented in pre-season that he had us all in it together.
“It was tough up those dunes and on those pitches but we all stuck together and we got through it.
“Every week he just keeps telling us to do what we’re good at.
“I listen to the radio going to games with the family and I heard some people saying that our bubble was burst after losing to Rangers at Ibrox recently.
“But last Saturday against Aberdeen we showed we’ve got a squad that can keep the run going. The gaffer has signed good players.”
Hearts will make the short journey from Gorgie to Murrayfield for the semi-final but MacLean maintains it will only feel like a “home” fixture if they do the business again against Celtic in front of the live cameras.
He added: “Only really if we’re doing well and we give the fans something to shout about will it feel like that.
“If we don’t do well, then the Celtic fans will feel like they’re at home.
“It’s an even split of fans with 30,000 each so it will be down to whoever gives their fans the most to cheer.
“Semi-finals are only good if you win them. We have to impose ourselves on the game and then go and win it. And then you can enjoy it.”
I hope they have a hard game as that can help us STEVEN MacLEAN