Djoum’s cup final despair leaves him pondering Gorgie exit
HEARTBROKEN Arnaud Djoum admits he could be on his way out of Tynecastle — laden with one final regret after failing to lift the Scottish Cup for the Gorgie side. The out-of-contract midfielder, too upset to even watch as Celtic lifted the trophy at Hampden on Saturday, insists he hasn’t been fielding offers from other clubs.
However, when asked if he had played his last game for Hearts, Djoum said: ‘Maybe yes, maybe no.
‘I will speak to the gaffer. We need to sit down, talk a little bit and see what happens.
‘But maybe, yes — and that’s why I’m frustrated. I really wanted to win this trophy to give to the fans. With all the support they gave us, I wanted to win it for them.
‘I just need to speak to the gaffer and, together, the gaffer and I will make a decision. We will try to find a solution. We will see.
‘Hearts have been good for me, yes. That’s why I really wanted to win the trophy for the fans and the club.
‘I don’t know what will happen next. I will speak to the gaffer this week and we will find a solution.’
While Djoum weighs up his options, the Hearts players who are committed to staying are still purring with excitement over the young talent now breaking into the first team — as highlighted by 16-year-old full-back Aaron Hickey’s performance at Hampden.
Scotland defender John Souttar, who played in a Scottish Cup semi-final at the same age, said: ‘Hickey coming into the team has given the fans a taste of what is to come. There are a lot of boys like that in the background.
‘You could see how comfortable he was on the ball, how he took it in his stride, and there are a lot of boys with good futures at the club.
‘Hickey was superb but he is not the only one. A lot of work has gone on at the club and it will reap the rewards very soon. There are a lot of good players.
‘In the dressing room, Aaron is
just like how he is on the pitch. You wouldn’t notice that he was a younger player, he has just slipped in seamlessly.
‘He was superb against Celtic and I am delighted for him. But it is just the start.
‘He has put himself on a pedestal because he was brilliant. That is one of the positives we can take from it.
‘He did very well against James Forrest. To come in and have that much composure, not just off the ball but on the ball, was great to to see.
‘Hickey is just a start. The gaffer and the backroom staff have done a lot of work on the academy — and you can see the quality coming through.
‘For him to put in a performance like that in the Scottish Cup final is great for the club.’
Souttar says he hopes Saturday’s improved performance, which saw Hearts take the lead before losing 2-1, will silence some of the criticism directed at head coach Craig Levein.
The centre-half explained: ‘For me, personally, the gaffer has been unbelievable. You can see all he has done for the club.
‘I have said it a million times but I think we have been unlucky this season.
‘We have reached a semi-final and a final.
‘It’s easy to criticise the gaffer. He’s the man who gets it but there is a lot of work that goes unseen.
‘It won’t be seen until a few years down the line. People will look back and realise that is what was building, because it’s not just on the pitch — it’s dayto-day stuff behind the scenes.
‘As I say, the gaffer has been massive for me and my development.
‘There is also this conception about the gaffer that he likes (playing) long balls.
‘He is the opposite. He likes footballers, people playing. I think you saw that.
‘The youth boys coming through are all comfortable on the ball. Next year, you will see more of that coming through.’