BOTTOM SIX
TYNECASTLE, 7.45PM, LIVE ON BT SPORT 1
players are fit? You cannot say this player can play this way or not, or that this player has more experience ... these are the players we have at the moment.
“We tried to give our best when we are training although there is not much time. But yeah, we need more quality on the pitch.”
One of the experienced players Stendel praised after the St Johnstone defeat was Steven MacLean.
Despite being the oldest in the squad MacLean says he’s suited to the way Stendel wants to play and Hearts need to go out and get after teams, starting against Celtic tonight.
MacLean, 37, said: “I know what he wants. Before he came in I had looked a bit at what his teams had done before.
“When he came in I realised pretty quickly what he wants from us. It’s important we try to do what he wants us to do.
“I’m really enjoying his stuff. It’s a bit different but it’s really good. We’ve got to do what he wants us to do and also try to win games.
“It can be difficult working on new things when we’ve got so many games but at the same time the way he wants to play is not too different from the way I’ve played in other teams before.
“When I was at Sheffield Wednesday and even at Rangers as a kid, we didn’t sit off teams. We went and got after them. Even at Cardiff their fans don’t allow you to sit off. “We’ve done it at Hearts before as well. It’s knowing when and how to do it. “It’s maybe new for some of the boys but it’s football, eh. We’ve all pressed and played in different formations at different times in our careers before so we should be able to take on board what he wants us to do. “If we don’t do it in the next few games he’ll be looking for new players. You’ve got to do it or you might find yourself out the door. “The new manager will decide in January what he wants to do but all the boys are on board with him.”