I’m too shame faced to walk streets
Tynecastle skipper on shocking start
CHRISTOPHE BERRA reckons there is nowhere left for Hearts boss Ian Cathro or his players to hide. The Jambos skipper has been disgusted by a beginning to the season which has seen the club already booted out of a major competition. And he has called for everyone in Gorgie to stand up and salvage a dreadful situation which is threatening to spark a revolt among their fans. Berra was at the launch of the Ladbrokes Premiership yesterday with his team already out of the Betfred Cup Following a disastrous end to last term, boss Cathro’s stock has fallen further after just four games this term. The under-fire gaffer is facing a furious backlash from supporters and chants for his exit were in the air after the 2-2 weekend draw with Dunfermline. Berra doesn’t agree with insults but he understands the frustration. He knows that when performances are not good enough the storm will be fierce. Berra insists training under Cathro is good, that the camp is together and some big characters are in there. However, if the results are bad none of the above counts for anything.
Plenty of accusations have been thrown at Cathro – that he’s too young, too naive, not ready to be a boss.
And Berra said: “It’s well documented what the media and some of the fans think but I can’t speak about that.
“Football’s all about opinions, that’s the way life is.”
The skipper, though, can speak clearly on the crisis and admits it’s time for everyone at Tynecastle to man-up and adopt a thick skin.
He insisted: “That’s sport. If you’re not playing well, the Press will give you stick so you need to be thick-skinned.
“I’m sure the manager is, he says he is, but that’s the nature of the beast.
“It’s not always nice things that are written about you because there will be times things aren’t going well.
“You have to take that flak and get on with it.
“Since I’ve been at the club training has been first class and everything we do with Austin MacPhee and Graham Fox is well run. “Training has been good, it’s well structured, but we’re not taking that on to the pitch – and that’s where it counts. Some of our games have involved fine margins and there could have been different outcomes but that’s no excuse.
“I’m the club captain and I need to watch what I say but we know we need to do more.
“We’re not getting the results a club of this size – with the squad we have and the support we have – should be getting.
“We all know football is results-based but I think some players are short of confidence. I don’t know whether some have a hangover from last year but the changing room has a good atmosphere.
“There are no bad eggs, it has been a joy to work in. But, as players, we must take responsibility.”
With this in mind, Berra led a serious inquest within the dressing room. After Dunfermline put them out of the Betfred Cup on Saturday, the skipper dished out a few home truths and encouraged his team-mates to do the same.
He said: “Things have to change. Sometimes you have to be nasty and sometimes it’s better to talk straight after the game in the heat of the moment and people give their opinions.
“I told the boys to speak up and they did. There might have been a few harsh words between us but that’s the case with every club I’ve been at. You have highs and lows in football and it’s about showing character. “As captain, you make your point to players during training sessions and after games.
“It was not just me. Kyle Lafferty said things, Don Cowie said things. Some of the other boys as well.
“I’m not going to change things overnight or be a hero but I’ll always give 100 per cent on the pitch and when it comes to saying harsh words.
“When I’m shouting at someone and having a go at them it doesn’t mean I don’t like them. It’s all done in the heat of the moment, sometimes people need a kick up the backside.
“Hopefully you get a reaction and there could be no better place to react than Parkhead.”
Berra was talking about Saturday’s league opener against Celtic in Glasgow.
When desperate for a result, it’s the last place a team would want to go, yet Berra relishes it.
Beating the champions, turning the tide, providing the type of result the fans crave and club supremo Ann Budge demands and sweeping away a lot of the chaos and despair in one brush.
Berra said: “I have spoken to Ann many times. There are ambitions to finish in the top three or four teams and qualify for Europe. That is what we want to do and where we should be.
“It’s about gelling and putting in the performance on the pitch. There is no one with more ambitions than the owner and we should be winning trophies and getting to the later stages of competitions.
“As a player I am not always at my best and having good games but I will try to be consistent as a defender and help the other players along.
“If you are not playing well, make sure you are still running about and giving 110 per cent. That can be the difference between winning and losing.
“I wanted to come back, no matter who the manager was, who the owner was.
“I wanted finish my career where I started it. I have not come here for a swanny – I want to win things, like all the other boys who have signed.
“We want to get into Europe and win cups, those are our main aims.
“With the new stand being built we need to show progress. Players have to thrive on these high-pressure situations.”
We want to get into Europe and win cups, those are our main aims CHRISTOPHE BERRA