Mackay-Steven fixes his eyes on a unique Euro treble
GARY MACKAY-STEVEN is ready to complete a European hat-trick. A veteran of European campaigns with Dundee United, Celtic and Aberdeen, the Hearts winger has graced the group stage of both the Champions League and Europa League.
Now in its second season, UEFA’s Conference League was brought in specifically to give clubs like Hearts access to an extended European run. Between now and November, they will experience the adventure of travelling to Italy, Latvia and Turkey.
Mackay-Steven has locked horns with Inter Milan and Manchester City in the past but admits he’s just as excited at what lies in wait for Robbie Neilson’s side.
On Thursday, they kick off their Group A schedule with a home game against Istanbul Basaksehir, a club rich enough to have former Real Madrid and Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil in their ranks.
After that, it’s a trip to Riga to face RFS and then a double header against Fiorentina.
‘The level in Europe is high and you need to be at it when you come up against all these players because it goes up a gear,’ declared MackaySteven. ‘Normally that brings you up too, so the boys will be at it.
‘Ozil has obviously been a top, top player and we will look to keep him quiet this week.’
Hearts will kick off at the unusual time of 5.45pm this week, a fact that might slightly alter the mood around Tynecastle.
‘In Europe, it is usually a night game and you are in front of full houses, so there is just a different feel to these games,’ said MackaySteven. ‘Regardless, you need to be at it from the start, the pace can be sharp and, depending on the team you are maybe up against, a different style of play.
‘That normally that brings out the best in you. Hopefully we can step up against Istanbul and give a good account of ourselves.’
Mackay-Steven actually made his debut for Dundee United in a European tie against Slask Wroclaw in 2011.
Soon after his transfer to Celtic he was pitched into a knock-out Europa League tie against Inter Milan before later featuring in the top tournament at the Etihad under Brendan Rodgers. ‘When I look back, those European games are something I’ve loved,’ he admitted. ‘Inter Milan was my favourite. Home and away.
‘I had some Inter Milan tops when I was younger, the blue and the black. I think I had three of them, so to go to the San Siro was special.
‘Some of these stadiums are quite iconic and the different atmospheres you get for European games adds something. You saw that with the game here against Zurich, it was amazing.’ Had Hearts managed to turn their first-half dominance against the Swiss champions into a goal then they might have been preparing for Europa League football this week. The pain of that play-off defeat remains but so does the realisation that they controlled large chunks of the match.
‘The Zurich game was probably our best performance of the season so it does show that you rise to the occasion,’ added Mackay-Steven.
‘You might come up against big names but the beauty of football it that it is 11 v 11 and, if you are on your game, you can be a match for anyone.
‘When we are on it, we can compete at that level. We have goals in all areas and a strong squad. We have a few injuries right now but when we are all together I feel like we can be dangerous against anybody. ‘We just need to get it right on the training field leading up to the game and hopefully make some chances and take some chances.’ Less than a week after losing to Zurich, Hearts were sent tumbling out of another competition, courtesy of Kilmarnock’s League Cup win in Edinburgh on Wednesday. A second-half substitute, MackaySteven’s ignominy coincided with his 32nd birthday.
With a clutch of important players missing, including Craig Halkett, Beni Baningime and Liam Boyce, Hearts have looked stretched in the early part of the season.
Mackay-Steven, who has flitted in and out of the side, insists the goal remains to compete for a secondplaced finish in the European competition this autumn. ‘We are not there to make up the numbers,’ he insisted. ‘We want to use Tynecastle as best we can, so the home games will be important.
‘We know a bit about these teams. They are obviously glamour ties but we are confident and will be trying to use the ground here to get some points at home.
‘Wednesday was a minor setback but we have huge games to look forward to and we need to get used to quickly turning our attention to the next game because they are coming thick and fast.’