Berra sets sights on cup finals and a top two slot with Cathro
CHRISTOPHE Berra last night insisted he has been lured back to Hearts by the prospect of working with under-fire boss Ian Cathro.
And the former Tynecastle skipper, who signed a three-year deal yesterday, has targeted an immediate tilt at second spot in the Premiership next season as he bids to help take the team ‘back up where we belong’.
Scotland centre-half Berra said he had sounded out a number of Hearts players about Cathro and received a positive response, despite the rookie coach having come under serious pressure following a horrendous start to his managerial career, which has seen him win just six games from 26.
‘I spoke to Ian a few times and, from what I’ve heard from the other boys in the team, they have only good things to say about him,’ said the 32-year-old, who was handed his Hearts debut as an 18-year-old by current Tynecastle director of football Craig Levein.
‘I’m looking forward to playing for him and bringing Hearts back to where we should be.
‘It’s been a rebuilding process recently. Hopefully, next season, we can push on and compete for the top two or top three.
‘We want to get to cup finals and finish as high up the league as we can, making the new Tynecastle a fortress again.
‘We’ve got to be up there challenging for second with Aberdeen. Celtic will be difficult because, financially, they’re in a different league.
‘But we want to be out there challenging for second with Aberdeen, maybe Rangers and Hibs, some other teams.
‘It will be difficult. But if we work hard, we’ve got a chance. It’s about getting back where we belong.’
Admitting Levein had also played a part in his return to the club he left for Wolves in 2009, Berra added: ‘He was a big reason, too. Craig gave me my debut as a youngster.
‘A lot of my career is down to him and his coaching. He was a big pull, him and the manager. They seem to work well together.
‘I think I’m a better player than when I left. Being a central defender, you get better with games and experience,’ added 35-times-capped Berra, who is in Gordon Strachan’s squad to face England on World Cup duty at Hampden next month.
Insisting he was not moving to his hometown of Edinburgh in search of an easy life, the former Ipswich Town defender said: ‘I’ve played down south at a high level. But I’m not coming up here just for a swan about. I want to do well. I have pride in my own performances.
‘I want to do well personally, but also help the team to do well. There are a lot of youngsters coming through.
‘I’ll hopefully help them develop, take on responsibility and help them to become first-team regulars.
‘I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing in front of great fans in the new stadium.
‘With the manager and his vision of the club, it’s really exciting stuff. Hopefully, we can make another couple of signings and really push on to where we should be.’
Berra had also been linked with a potential move to Rangers, who badly need to strengthen in central defence, but insisted there was only one club he would ever play for north of the border.
He said: ‘I’m Edinburgh born and bred. My family lives here, all my friends live here.
‘I have a daughter up here, which is one of the main factors in coming back and, obviously, there was only one team I really wanted to come to and that’s Hearts. It’s the only club I’ve played for in Scotland. Hopefully, I can end my career here.’
Meanwhile, Cathro has told six members of his underperforming Hearts squad that their time at Tynecastle is over.
Tasos Avlonitis, Alex Tziolis, Lennard Sowah and Andraz Struna, who were all signed by the rookie boss on six-month deals in January, have been informed they will not be kept on after the team’s dismal second half of the season.
On-loan Stoke winger Moha Choulay will return to his parent club, while former Stirling Albion youngster Dylan Bikey has also been released.
Greek defender Avlonitis made a total of 11 appearances in maroon, while Tziolis played 18 competitive games, scoring once.
German left-back Sowah, who had previously played for Hamilton Accies, made 15 appearances and Slovenia international Struna leaves with 17 games and one goal under his belt.
Moroccan winger Choulay turned out 12 times during his stint in Edinburgh and French striker Bikey made just two senior appearances after joining the Tynecastle club at the turn of the year.