McGinn: Hibs hold all the aces in bid to be capital kings
JOHN McGINN has taken a swipe at Hearts by claiming their players could not handle the heat of playing for the Tynecastle side as their campaign collapsed last term.
And the Easter Road star is determined to enjoy more capital gains after insisting Hibs, unlike their city neighbours, have built a squad that can thrive in the Edinburgh cauldron.
Despite being in the division below their rivals, Hibs dumped them out of the Scottish Cup last season, securing a 0-0 draw at Tynecastle before dismantling Ian Cathro’s side 3-1 in Leith.
It is now six derbies without a win for Hearts as the sides prepare to do battle in the top flight of Scottish football for the first time since 2014 — and McGinn has lobbed the first grenade.
‘You have to be able to deal with the pressures that playing for a big club like Hibs brings. It’s not for everyone,’ said McGinn.
‘Ordinary players can’t do well here. You need to know what’s expected of you and I think everyone in our dressing room knows that. The support can be demanding and I like that.
‘It’s the same across the city at Hearts. You could see when they brought in a lot of new players in January that, without being disrespectful to them, they just weren’t ready to go and play for a big club like Hearts. ‘I will avoid being controversial and just say that Hibs are, at least, every bit as big as Hearts, so the same applies. It takes a certain character to come here and play with character and style, the way they would at other clubs where the demands aren’t quite as high.’ With Hibs head coach Neil Lennon stating recently that they should target second behind Celtic, expectations are already high ahead of a mouth-watering return to the SPFL Premiership.
And, after some big talk, McGinn is acutely aware that there will be plenty of top-flight foes determined to put Hibs back in their place next term.
‘I think teams will come to Easter Road thinking they can maybe knock us down a peg or two,’ he smiled.
‘We’re used to that. We have been the big scalp from playing in the Championship.
‘I don’t think much will change in that regard. Teams will come to Easter Road, set out their stall and hope to avoid defeat.’