Our display at Killie was perfect... All my players know what I expect now
DURING Dundee’s pre-season camp in a secluded spot in Hungary, Paul Hartley had plenty of time to think. Once the training sessions had finished, there was little in the way of distractions. It gave him the opportunity to prepare and plan. Armed with a pen and notebook, he jotted down bullet points. He used the spare moments wisely.
Yet it wasn’t until the very last moment that he i nformed his players what he expected from them during this campaign. And they were told in no uncertain terms in the final build-up to the opening weekend of the season.
Their response was beyond his wildest expectations, as they thrashed Kilmarnock 4-0 at Rugby Park last Saturday to sit top of the SPFL Premiership. This afternoon, they move on to a home clash with Hearts.
Hartley told Sportsmail: ‘We gave the players a presentation last week to make them aware of our goals for the season. I told them I want to win more games, score more goals and have more clean sheets. Finish higher than last season. I also want us to go further in the cup competitions.
‘They were also told about the standards I expect from them on and off the park, just about every aspect of the way they conduct themselves as a Dundee FC player. They bought into it. They think t he goals we have s et are achievable.
‘To take that into the victory last weekend at Kilmarnock was just brilliant. I don’t think I’ve ever said this as a manager, but that performance and re s ul t at Rugby Park was perfect.
‘The challenge is to take that forward and aim for that standard again against Hearts. It won’t be easy but we have a good feeling about Dens just now. This is my fifth season as a manager and this is as excited as I’ve ever felt.
‘Of course, not every weekend will be as good as last weekend. But we need to aim to produce a high level of performance in every game. When the blips and defeats do come, then we have to handle them professionally and maturely and show resilience to bounce back.’
Since he took over at Alloa in the summer of 2011 and then Dundee in early 2014, Hartley has secured two titles, a promotion and a top-six f i nish. He rates l ast season’s achievement as good as anything.
It’s a tall order to improve on that but he has made changes to his squad and let go important players from last season, such as Jim McAlister and David Clarkson, while bringing in players from lower leagues like Rory Loy and Kane Hemmings.
It shows Hartley is not afraid to make tough decisions. He knows managers can’t afford to do sentiment.
‘We have improved the squad,’ he added. ‘I assessed everything closely and decided we needed to be fresher, hungrier and a bit younger. I let guys go who were different class for us last season but there are very few easy decisions in management. You can’t let your heart rule your head.
‘Every decision I make is with the best interests of the football club at heart.
‘I do not take this job for granted and that’s why I work 14 or 15 hours a day. Every manager will tell you there is no such thing as a day off. We do it to improve our football club and progress as managers. You need t o be self-motivated and I make sure I’m ready for my work every day, have my week prepared in advance.
‘I work long days and try to cram as much as I can into every hour. It’s enjoyable, though. I’m very l ucky to be managing i n the Scottish Premiership and I’m lucky to have a good staff beside me, all puling in the same direction.
‘We all just long for memorable moments during a long and testing campaign. For example, l ast weekend I enjoyed the moment in the dressing room with the players at full-time.
‘But as soon as I was on the team bus heading back to Dundee, I was focused on the Hearts game. That’s the way it is. When we win, I’m on a high for an hour at the most. Then I’ve moved on. And yet if we l ose, it’ s best not be i n my company for a day or two. Maybe I need to strike a better balance!’
Hearts arrive on Tayside today in a confident mood after their thrilli ng 4- 3 victory against St Johnstone at Tyecastle. Hartley is still fond of the club after the good times he had at Tynecastle, many of which he shared with current manager, Robbie Neilson.
‘Hearts will be dangerous,’ said the Dens boss. ‘We will show them every respect but we are the home team and we will have a f antastic support behind us.
‘Dens Park will be packed. We want to send our fans home happy. Whatever happens, t hough, t here will be 36 games to go and 108 points to play for. Sorry for the cliches!
‘ We will take it a game at a time, as we did last season. The aim for us then was make sure we weren’t i n danger of going straight back down.
‘We made it into the top six and few would have expected that from us. Now, we try to improve on that. I don’t see why we can’t.’