I’ve still a lot to learn — Cathro

ROOKIE Hearts boss Ian Cathro admits managing the Tynecastle side has been tougher than he expected.

The former Valencia and Newcastle coach was Jambos director of football Craig Levein’s bold choice to replace Robbie Neilson.

But, so far, the 30-yearold has struggled to get his message over to his players.

Hearts have earned just four wins from his first 15 games in charge which has seen the critics who questioned his appointment in the first place sharpen their blades.

And Cathro admits his first three months in charge have i nvolved a steep learning curve.

Asked if he had found the job more difficult than he had first imagined, he said: “There i s nobody i n the world who could sit in this chair in this moment and based on the run of results we’ve had say no to that question.

“Was my expectation for things to come this way? No it wasn’t.

“There is learning there for me to l ook at some aspects of the game and how we can do it better.”

Cathro has tried to implement a more continental style of play but confesses he has underestimated the Scottish determination to battle for every ball.

He said: “A lot of times, the games in this league can make it more difficult for us to dominate play the way that we want to.

“We’ve had situations where we’ve made an error or missed chances and as the game goes on there is maybe some anxieties or frustrations and if we go behind, it becomes more difficult.

“That’s the same in every league i n the world but maybe more so here because you have every single team in the league who fight and scrap right until the very end, teams who are happy to defend with 10 men and who will attack very direct.”

Hearts head coach Ian Cathro.