Ginnelly says squad aren’t motivated by cup final spots
Hearts winger insists Tynecastle side have just found lethal edge
HEARTS winger Josh Ginnelly claims it is the winning mentality within the Tynecastle squad that is the providing the impetus for the league finale rather than a fight for starting berths at Hampden.
Robbie Neilson’s side take on Rangers next month as the curtain comes down on this season with competition for places inevitably fierce.
Ginnelly impressed on Sunday afternoon in what was his first start since February as he marked the occasion with a goal in Hearts’ 3-2 win over Dundee United.
He has maintained, though, that the drive to finish the season strongly comes down to the attitude that has been imprinted on the side this term.
“Everybody wants to start in the final but we don’t really have individuals,” he said. “It’s
all about the team. Whether you play one minute or 90, everybody is together. As we showed in the Hibs game, boys are gutted they haven’t started but we were delighted we got over the line.
“I don’t know the other changing rooms but we have unbelievable boys in our group. You never feel apart from it because everybody is together. If the gaffer changes it in the final, nobody is going to be raging. It’s all about the team. That has been implemented this season.
“It’s tough going into the split when you’ve already got Europe and through to the cup final. Some people would just say: ‘Sweet, we don’t have to win. It’s fine.’ But I think it’s important we keep the mentality we’ve had all season.”
Ginnelly decided not to take the Covid vaccine so has had spells of isolation because of the virus. It has disrupted his season and allowed people to get into the team in front of him. As the Tynecastle side go into the final weeks of the season the likelihood is that he will have greater involvement, assuming he avoids coming into contact again with the virus.
“I’ve had two or three Covid things and I’m not vaccinated,” he said. “I’ve had well over two weeks off, so that’s given other people opportunities to play every game. They’ve done so well. I’m not going to start complaining but I’m more delighted with what the boys have done this season.
“I’ve just been in and out because of Covid. It is what it is. I’m all about the team. I just want to see us go on to this next game against Ross County, win that and take every game into the final.”
Meanwhile, Tony Watt, the Dundee United striker, has urged his team-mates not to become distracted about the possibility of European football next season.
There is just one point between Tam Courts’ side and Motherwell with the teams meeting at Tannadice this weekend.
“I just want to win games,” said Watt. “If we work hard and win games then we will get that [European place] and the rewards. There is a really good opportunity there and if we win games then we will get there.
“It is the place we want to be and we are not going to go away and cry [about the weekend defeat] because sometimes that happens. We got beat off a good Hearts team. They are third in the league and are in the Scottish Cup final. We want to beat them and get closer to them but we still have a bit to go.
“We need to turn it around because it is a big game. We want to get that fourth position, but we are slapping ourselves on the back of the head. “
And the striker insisted that there needs to be collective responsibility after United have shipped five goals in their last two games.
“You defend as a full team and that is the full 11 and not just the players at the back,” he said. “We will go and address it. Self-reflection as I always say is the main thing because I can see what I have done wrong and what I can do better and then as a team.”