Hearts cannot let boss down, insists Djoum
THEY have to win this one for the gaffer. The Hearts players know it. The fans turning up at Tynecastle in a typically demanding mood tonight absolutely agree.
And the woman who saved one of Scotland’s most important football clubs from the threat of liquidation? Ann Budge must be aware that the situation is critical. Yes, already.
Three games into his time as head coach, Ian Cathro has yet to experience victory. In the wake of Friday night’s inexplicable defeat in Dundee, his team blowing a two-goal lead in a 3-2 humbling by moderate opposition, faith among the masses is wearing thing.
That’s why Arnaud Djoum doesn’t hesitate to say of tonight’s visit of Kilmarnock: ‘We have to win for him (Cathro) — because we trust in him. Every single player in the team has a lot of confidence in him because, the way he wants to play, everybody wants to play like that.
‘So, the next game, all of us have to really play for him, to give him a good boost for the future. For ourselves, as well as our confidence, it’s very important to win this one.’
Djoum is adamant that he and his team-mates have already seen enough of Cathro to appreciate what he’s trying to do. There is a general groundswell of confidence, within the squad, about the first minor tweaks and tinkering possible despite such a hectic run of fixtures.
Moreover, players who had won just twice in seven games before Cathro replaced Robbie Neilson understand that there are some long-standing issues in need of address.
Yet all of the above matters not a jot in the court of public opinion. Nor does Budge publicly declaring that she’s prepared to give her rookie boss a year to make his mark.
During the next 12 months, Hearts will be building a new main stand at a cost of £12million. They’ll need to sell a whole lot of season tickets. And keep those faithful Foundation of Hearts pledgers committed to monthly backing above and beyond any reasonable call of duty.
Cathro himself dismisses all talk of taking the rest of this season and half of the next campaign to find his feet. He neither expects nor seeks such indulgence; the 30-year-old just wants to be treated like a normal boy, not some youthful oddity, a prodigy enrolling in university when he should be getting measured for his first high school blazer.
‘I’ve learned an awful lot about everyone, about us,’ Cathro insisted. ‘The only thing I’ve learned about myself is that I was right when I thought a long time ago that I would be strong enough to deal with these things.
‘I’m confident and relaxed in the fact that, yeah, I’m fortunate that I’m strong and these challenges just add to making me a little bit better.
‘We intend on making sure that that’s the case (Kilmarnock will be my first win) and that the fans come with us. They see what we give in the first 15 minutes.’
He was certainly given a hazing by the Gorgie crowd on his home debut, a pitiful second-half display in a 1-1 draw with Partick Thistle more than enough to provoke the ire of fans who, on their day, can generate the best atmosphere in the Scottish game.
The need for a quick start tonight speaks for itself. The personal testimonials being offered by players in support of their coach need to be backed up with a show of real verve and vigour.
Defending the new man in charge, Djoum declared himself already convinced, insisting: ‘I’ve seen enough. He’s a very good coach.
‘We just have to believe in him. Good things will come in the future. Sometimes, it just takes patience to get better — but good things will come soon.
‘He’s very smart, we know precisely what we have to do. You saw that in the first half against Dundee. Even in the second half, the way we played was okay.
‘So the way he’s thinking, the way he wants to play, suits me as well. I like to play this way, dominating games and getting a lot of time on the ball.
‘It has taken time to adapt (from Neilson), but we’ve only been working with him (Cathro) for three weeks. You can see that we are starting to understand the way he wants us to play.
‘We just have to continue like that and try to score more goals. I think in the first half against Dundee we could have been three or four-zero up, so we just have to continue to work like we did and everything will be better.’
Given the loss of momentum suffered by Hearts since Neilson signed off with that rousing home victory over Rangers last month, most would settle for baby steps in the right direction at the moment.
Yet, for the optimistic among the Gorgie boys, the last two games before the winter break provide Cathro’s men with a chance to make a great leap forward.
Beating Killie is key, of course. Should they follow that up with a home win over a resurgent Aberdeen on Friday night? That might just change everything.
‘It’s very important that we win these two games,’ said Djoum. ‘The Aberdeen home game is very important to win, as well, that is clear.
‘Because as you can see we are playing good football and we dominate games. Now we need to win them. We have to score more goals — and not concede stupid goals.’