MacPhee didn’t hang about after boss’s sacking
Hearts interim manager Austin MacPhee admits he picked his team for today’s Betfred Cup semi-final against Rangers just hours after Craig Levein was sacked.
The Tynecastle side released a statement at 4.11pm on Thursday to announce that Levein had been relieved of his duties as manager and director of football following a wretched run of form.
Despite naturally feeling guilty over Levein’s departure, MacPhee – who was brought to the club as assistant manager in December, 2016, initially under Ian Cathro – was almost immediately able to turn his attention to today’s Hampden showdown.
He said: “I’ve already decided the team. I decided it on Thursday night. I’m very clear on what I want the team to do.
“I’ve had a lot of oneto-one dialogue with a lot of players, and it was important for me to make sure they understood the training, and what I wanted them to do in their role.
“And also that they felt comfortable saying that they didn’t, if they didn’t.
“And for the senior ones, I want their input. I don’t want them to be mute.
“I know what I want the team to do, so if they challenge me on it, I also know what I want to do in that situation.
“Whether I’ve had enough time over 48 hours to articulate that to them, time will tell.”
Asked if he would attempt to spring a surprise against Rangers, MacPhee said: “Most are round pegs in round holes.
“There’s maybe one wee square peg going to get shoved in there. But it’s my job to make sure the square peg knows how to get into the round hole, and them to feel confident in their role.
“But 10 out of the 11 roles, I’m very confident in the players, based on what I’ve seen them do for this club, a previous club, or their country.
“I want to try to shoulder some of the pressure they feel, in the way I want them to play.”
MacPhee conceded that a lack of variation in an injury-plagued squad was a factor in their current league position.
“I do think that we are maybe slightly imbalanced,” he said.
“We need more wide players with pace who can score. We are a wee bit short at the top end of the pitch.
“Steven Naismith can do a lot of things. He can probably play every position other than the back four.
“Steven MacLean is great around the club, as is Uche Ikpeazu.
“It’s been hard for young players to break into a team that doesn’t have confidence.
“You maybe have less resilience when it’s tough out there.”
On handing youth coach Donald Park additional first-team responsibility, MacPhee said: “I have sat on the bench beside Jimmy Nicholl for 53 internationals.
“I find that older people in football, the more experienced guys, say less that means more.
“I see Donald as a Jimmy Nicholl-type figure.”