da se smrznes

nema veze sto lici na tipicno cirkularno pismo, koje se salje svima s kojima odigras utakmicu u Europi, ali bez ikakve dileme pokazuje i dokazuje jednu razinu i nacin ophodjenja i komunikacije koji je jednostavno - iznad svega

pravi gentlemani, nema sta

The manager, who took the Tynecastle team to third place in the SPL last season, has so far refused to sign a new contract which has been offered to him by the board.

Laszlo, who signed a three-year deal when he joined Hearts in the summer of 2008, said he would ideally like to see out that contract. But, speaking the day after a 4-0 Europa League defeat by Dinamo Zagreb had highlighted the shortcomings of his squad, he said he would have to consider his position if club owner Vladimir Romanov did not provide the funds to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes.

"If you are realistic, yes," he said at a Riccarton press conference when asked if he would think of leaving. "You don't ever know what will happen in football.

"I know we need maybe a player with experience," he continued. "We didn't lose players last season who played at Real Madrid's level, but we lost characters with very good leadership positions in the team. At the moment that is our biggest problem."

Laszlo has tried for some time to recruit a striker, and Hearts' early results this season have shown how badly they need one. They lost 2-0 to Dundee United in their opening SPL game five days ago, and their lack of firepower was even more glaring in Thursday's loss in Croatia.

With the club heavily in debt and still planning the construction of a new stand, however, securing funds for new players may not be the priority for the owner. And Romanov's history suggests he is extremely unlikely to be bounced into a change of plan merely because an employee – even one as apparently valued as Laszlo – has made a public plea for him to do so.

However, Laszlo pointed out that he had lasted the longest of any manager since Romanov assumed control at Hearts, and, while saying that ideally he would like to stay with the club, stated his belief that he would get another job in Scotland if he left Tynecastle. "I've been the longest in this position for the last five years. You don't know for how long you can be manager of this club.

"I got from Mr Romanov a chance to come here. For me it was a big chance to come to Scottish football.

"I used the chance. I know one time if it is time to go, with my reputation in Scottish football I think I can get my next job here."

After saying that "Mr Romanov offered me a new contract and at the moment I don't sign", Laszlo declined to reveal any details of that new contract – whether, for instance, it proposes an extension of his present deal, or whether it is meant to replace it. Asked if he wanted to sign it, he replied: "Hearts is a great club and if I get help to realise my vision, yes. If the club wish to work with me, from both sides it is always very important to have trust.

"My future is indifferent. I would like to stay in Edinburgh for the next two years. My wish is definitely to stay the next two years in Edinburgh, and this is what I think will be happening from my side."

Having been successful with relatively scant resources last season, Laszlo is convinced he now deserves more help. Robbie Neilson, Christos Karipidis and Bruno Aguiar have left the club in recent months, and although new players have arrived, none is of the metaphorical stature of those three.

The manager's problems have also been exacerbated by injury and indiscipline. Calum Elliot, Andy Driver and Laryea Kingston are all making their way back from injury at present, club captain Michael Stewart was sent off against United, and deputy captain Marius Zaliukas is about to start a four-match ban after picking up four red cards last season.

Jose Goncalves, who was away from Hearts on loan last season but is now back with the squad and played in Zagreb, said he thought it was important that Laszlo should stay.

"It's very important for us to have the manager here," he said. "With him we can achieve a lot of stuff.

"He's doing his best to bring players here and build a better team, but he can't do it on his own. The people here have to help him.

"I don't imagine we'll lose the manager. He's done a lot for the club.

"If he goes now it's very disappointing. He's got a lot of experience and from that every player can take good stuff. I can understand his frustration. He wants to build this team. If we achieve third place and go to Europe you have to give him what he wants.

"Our coach is not asking a lot. He is just asking for one striker. We can give him the striker he wants. A manager cannot have every player he wants, but everyone knows we need one."

Nonetheless the Hungarian, perhaps foolishly, has opted to deflect attention and pressure on to Vladimir Romanov following Thursday's demoralising Europa League play-off defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.

Laszlo chose yesterday's pre-match press conference
The political gamesmanship is akin to a round of Russian roulette with a man who specialises in such duels and the comments could be detrimental to Laszlo's future.

His contract runs until summer 2011 but he is understandably frustrated that Romanov and his associates have refused to commission the signing of a striker worthy of the name this summer.

David Witteveen has arrived but thus far failed to impress. He did not participate in the 4-0 capitulation in Croatia on Thursday evening, which leaves Hearts effectively out of the Europa League and Laszlo craving a new forward before the 31 August transfer deadline.

He has furnished Romanov with countless signing targets – amongst them Ilco Naumoski, Adam Nemec and the Hungarian forward Peter Bajzat – but had to improvise with Christian Nade as the focal point of his attack in Zagreb.

Neither Romanov nor director Sergejus Fedotovas attended the Maksimir Stadium to witness Hearts' deficiencies in person, and Laszlo's exasperation spilled over at Riccarton yesterday afternoon.

"I know we need maybe a player with experience," he said. "We didn't lose players last season who played at Real Madrid's level but we lost characters with very good leadership. At the moment that is our biggest problem.

"You must have respect for people. This is the point for me, to be respectful. It is indifferent which name or position you have but I never forget if someone helped me. This is realistic and I hope, and I know, that Mr Romanov has offered me a new contract. At the moment I have not signed but we discuss this. You don't know, after the Rangers or Zagreb game he might say thank you very much..."

In response to a question on whether he wanted to remain at Tynecastle for the long term, Laszlo replied: "Hearts is a great club and if I get the help to realise my vision, yes. After a good season the club showed me the appreciation and I think this speaks for the owner and his vision. I already have two years (left] and for this I respect the owner and this direction.

"For me and every manager it is difficult to realise your vision if you lose games. This is the point for me.

"About the personnel at the moment I don't like to talk. I respect the rules of the club and on the other side I am very honest.

"If the club wish to work with me, from both sides it is always very important to have trust. My future is indifferent. I would like to stay in Edinburgh for the next two years. This is what I think will be happening. I got a chance from Mr Romanov to come here, and I think that for me personally it was a big chance to come to Scottish football. I know also that I used the chance. I know also that if one time it is the time to go, I can go with my reputation in Scottish football and I hope I can get another job here. The people know me but the chance I get is from Mr Romanov and this club."

Talk of Laszlo working elsewhere in Scotland as a result of achievements in Gorgie will chill Romanov. Jose Goncalves, Hearts' Portuguese defender, implored the Russian entrepreneur to acquiesce with the manager's wishes before the end of the month.

"I can understand his frustration. He wants to build this team. If we achieve third place and go to Europe you have to give him what he wants," said Goncalves.

"Our coach is not asking a lot. He is just asking for one striker. We can give him the striker he wants. A manager cannot have every player he wants, but everyone knows we need one.

"It is very important for us to have the manager here. With him we can achieve a lot of stuff. He is doing his best to bring players here and build a better team, but he can't do it on his own. The people here have to help him.

"I don't imagine will lose the manager. He has done a lot for the club. If he goes now it's very disappointing. He's got a lot of experience and from that every player can take good stuff."

Laszlo has several team selection issues to contend with for tomorrow's match and must decide who should assume the captaincy with Michael Stewart and Marius Zaliukas both suspended.

Andy Driver, Calum Elliot and Larry Kingston remain injured although Driver will return to training next week and club medical staff are hopeful that Elliot and Kingston will not be far behind.

Ismael Bouzid, the Algerian defender, remains slightly doubtful with a shoulder complaint.

In light of his comments on the striking situation most interest will surround Laszlo's attacking selections, and whether he will persist with Nade or unleash Gary Glen on the league champions.

Speaking less than 12 hours after the Hearts party returned from their Europa League play-off first leg, the Tynecastle manager also pledged that his team would try to make at least partial amends by winning next Thursday's second leg at Tynecastle.
Although he appeared more frustrated, and at a loss to explain his team's performance, than at any time since he became Hearts manager, Laszlo insisted his team would recover from their humiliation in the Croatian capital. "We must bring success back and the first step is the Rangers game," he continued.

"The next step is to show our best face on Thursday and win that game. Dinamo Zagreb can score away goals, but we need to win the game."

Having lost Marius Zaliukas and Michael Stewart to suspension, and being without Calum Elliot, Andy Driver and Laryea Kingston through injury, Hearts will be forced to play some of their least experienced players tomorrow. Two who come into that category, Gary Glen and Arvydas Novikovas, were among their better performers in Zagreb, so Laszlo will not necessarily have any fears on that front.

Jose Goncalves, who started in midfield before reverting to centre-back in that game, said that whoever played had to do so with pride and commitment. "On Sunday we will have to show some of the pride that we didn't show yesterday," he said. "We let everyone down and it's unacceptable."

Rangers manager Walter Smith believes that Hearts' grim experience on Thursday night may actually make victory harder for the SPL champions to achieve at Tynecastle tomorrow.

Smith is wary of the response he expects his opposite number Laszlo to provoke from the Hearts players, who followed their opening 2-0 SPL loss at Dundee United on Monday with the humbling 4-0 reverse in Croatia.

"I don't think it will have any effect on Sunday's game, other than to make Hearts even more determined to get something against Rangers," insisted Smith.

"Hearts have obviously not had the start to the season they would want. But you take into account that they have had tough games.

"We all have disappointments at some stage and I think Hearts usually seem to have a decent reaction to that kind of thing. Last season, whenever they lost a couple of games under Csaba, they always seemed able to lift themselves and come back. I don't see Sunday's game being any different.

"We had one of our poorer performances of last season at Tynecastle when we lost this fixture 2-1. We know the type of game we are going to get. We realise that unless we play to a really good level, we face the prospect of losing out. Under Csaba, they have had good pride in their performance and they would be looking to try and close the gap on the Old Firm this season if they could."

Smith added: "Hearts, if they need any other motivation when they play against Rangers, will find it in the sense that losing the first two games of the season is never a good thing.

"When you add in the situation that Rangers are one of the teams they want to get closer to in the league this season, then they've got every motivation to do well. That's something we will have to be careful with."

Smith welcomes full-back Sasa Papac back from suspension, but is again without the injured Pedro Mendes and Nacho Novo. He hopes both will be fit for next week's home fixture with Hamilton.

While satisfied with the final outcome of last Saturday's opening day 4-1 win over Falkirk at Ibrox, Smith will look for a better performance level from his team tomorrow. "We scored some good goals last week, but there was a little bit of inconsistency in the overall display," he added. "Hopefully we will improve as the games come along."

Jimmy Crichton, Edinburgh: "The early goal was critical because it gave them bags of confidence. However, I think that they look to be a very good side and we had no chance against them. We really struggled to cope with their forwards."



John Goddard, Restalrig: "A harsh lesson in European football. In the end, I was glad to escape with a 4-0 defeat. We were just not competitive at any stage. Tynecastle will be flat next week. Very disappointing."

Alan Clark, Leith: "That was pretty embarrassing. We didn't put up any resistance at all and never looked like troubling them. We lack quality and it's going to be a long, hard season for us. It was too easy for Dinamo in the end."

Michael Gillespie, Fife: "The early goal was a killer blow for us because all it did was hand the initiative to Dinamo and they punished us very severely for it. Obviously, the tie is beyond us now and that is the most disappointing thing but I loved my time in Zagreb and it was well worth it."

Iain Kerr, Danderhall: "A horror display from Hearts. There was no passion and no commitment from the players. They should be ashamed of how badly they let down fans who paid a lot of money."

Brian Dempster, Joppa: "That was probably the worst away performance that Hearts have ever produced in Europe. We followed the trend of all of the other Scottish sides in Europe. We were absolutely hammered and, in truth, it could have been even worse."

Michael Burrell, Glasgow: "A brilliant trip but, in all honesty, the game itself went about as badly as it could have gone. From start to finish, Zagreb played us off the park. They were good but we made them look like world beaters. Still happy to be here, though!"

Harry Smail, Penicuik: "That was a shambolic, diabolical performance from Hearts. I cannot believe how poor we were. We lacked organisation and leadership on the pitch and it was embarrassing to watch us. We were running around like headless chickens and it will be a long time before we get into Europe again based on that display."

Rab, Penicuik: "What a shambles, a team of strangers yet again! I'm dreading the Rangers game on Sunday, far too many passengers. Get it sorted, Laszlo."

Caz Wright, Inch: "Why is Michael Stewart captain? Why is Eggert Jonsson played out of position? Also Christian Nade – WHY?"

J Wilson, Musselburgh: "You can say all you want about the players on the pitch but for me the blame lies firmly at Laszlo's door. Nade should never wear a Hearts top again, Goncalves isn't a midfielder, Obua isn't a supporting striker and Jonnsson IS NOT a right back. Come on Csaba, teach the team how to defend and give Glen and/or Novikovas a chance."

"The loss of the early goal was a big blow because I am sure the game plan would have been to try and keep things tight and with the early goal going in, the gameplan went out of the window a wee bit. Their fans really got behind them and Zagreb made
Kevin Jordan, Tollcross: "The game was not a pleasant experience for the fans but the whole experience has been excellent and I am sure that every one of the fans who made the effort to travel to Croatia is glad that they did.

"I thought that we were really poor and our weaknesses in defence were ruthlessly exploited by a side who, fortunately for us, are probably a better side than anyone we will face again this season. We just had no flow, no cohesion and I think our players froze on the big stage. We were invisible as an attacking force and, although it was reported that they have a shaky defence, I don't know whether they do or not because they were not tested.

"It is easy to rip Hearts to shreds over this display but I genuinely believe that the players gave their all and we were simply beaten on the night by a very good side. It is worth remembering that they are the champions of Croatia and I think we saw why last night.

Mike King, Liberton: "I am still a wee bit shocked at how easily we were torn apart. I thought that Dinamo Zagreb were excellent on both flanks and Lee Wallace and Eggert Jonsson were taken apart by the quick feet and trickery of the Zagreb players.

"I thought that the biggest problem with the display was that we gave the ball away far too cheaply on too many occasions with Michael Stewart probably the biggest culprit. Although the result is disappointing, the most important thing is that we draw a line under this display as quickly as we possibly can and it will be interesting to see what kind of response Csaba can draw from the players on Sunday.

"The players were poor last night and we did not see the level of commitment from them that we have come to expect from Csaba's teams."

Deep in the bowels of Stadion Maksimir, which translates as maximum peace, the Hungarian looked destroyed after Dinamo Zagreb went to war on his team. He sat slumped, spoke in an inert tone and clearly toiled to digest the 90 minutes beforehand


Krunoslav Jurcic, the Dinamo coach, attended Tannadice on Monday evening and would have noted that Eggert Jonsson lacks the instinct of a natural full-back. Principally because he is a central midfielder. He would also have been aware that Suso, Hearts' Spanish winger, often positions himself far up the right flank and leaves the Icelander behind him exposed. It was textbook homework for the Croatian and he achieved full marks by handing the Chilean Pedro Morales licence to roam free on Dinamo's left, causing untold damage. He was assisted by a fellow South American, the Brazilian Sammir, on the opposite flank. With the slick, powerful front two of Dimitrios Papadopoulos and Mario Mandzukic, the Croatian champions were simply overwhelming.

Hearts toiled to get a foothold in proceedings throughout the evening. Their best available striker, Gary Glen, did not take the field until almost an hour had been played, by which time Dinamo were 3-0 ahead and out of sight. In just over 30 minutes Glen managed to cover significantly more ground than Christian Nade had done in the previous hour as Hearts' attacking insufficiency was exposed once again.

David Obua was anonymous in an attacking central midfield role while Jose Goncalves played the first half at left midfield but looked uncomfortable. Ruben Palazuelos and Michael Stewart watched Dinamo's splendid array of short, sharp passes go back and forth in front of them. They chased and harried, but little could be done to halt Jurcic's side.

Laszlo lamented the loss of a goal to Mandzukic after only five minutes but recognised that the experience and sharpness of mind possessed by Dinamo had been telling. "I said before Dinamo was a good team with a lot of experienced players. It was very unlucky to lose an early goal. After that we had a very big problem. Now we must try to win the home game," he said.

"I am realistic. I don't think, against a team like Dinamo Zagreb, you can score seven or five goals, but we must try to win the game, especially for our supporters who have suffered with us. We don't search for an excuse. We had a game on Monday then this next game. We cannot say everything was positive, everything negative we must talk about. I think 4-0 was a result you cannot take at this level. You must play more aggressive, more open, and you must show you are proud. This was not there. The young players without experience had a difficult time. This is life.

"I don't like to tell what I feel but I am part of the team. I don't like to support nobody and say everything in the team is okay. The players can't believe we lost 4-0 but this is the reality. I said before the game if you stay good and compact and don't lose an early goal, you have the possibility to come out and try. But after five minutes at 1-0 for the opponents it was very hard.

"I tried to have Christian Nade up front with David Obua behind. (David] Witteveen had a problem with his shoulder and we don't have so many strikers. We had Gary Glen on for Nade, he had a big deficit and we could not keep the ball up front. The reality is also that we lost our four best players this year so we had to build a completely new team. In international football this will be punished very quickly.

"We cannot go down, we have Rangers on Sunday and the next game against Dinamo. We can't have excuses, we must win. If you don't have a striker, other players must score goals. I must respect the supporters who supported us in big numbers in Zagreb. We must do something for them."

Laszlo lingered on his point about trying to compete at European level with players only recently promoted from the youth team. "If you saw our bench, the oldest player was 19 I think," he continued. "This is the biggest question for me. If you come to the Europa League and you play against a team like Dinamo Zagreb, who have scored over 20 goals in four games in the league, this is not an accident. /Evo komplimenta i ISTRIWith all these young players on the field, to feel, to explain and to have the duties is not easy. They tried and I am not angry about the team. I was realistic for the game. I said you must not lose very high, but this is different. We lost 4-0.

"I hope next year we can play at international level. It is only a question if these young players can learn in this time not to get the same result."

Dinamo made light of the sub-standard playing surface, which had been re-laid just 48 hours previously due to U2 concerts at the stadium. In truth, their passing was virtually faultless. Mandzukic's back-post header opened the scoring after Marian Kello appeared to lose Sammir's right-sided cross in the air. Morales' effort from distance clipped the Slovakian's crossbar with Dinamo in complete control and it was no great surprise to see Papadopoulos score the second from close range after Kello palmed Mandzukic's shot to his left.

At half-time Hearts were craving a hint of inspiration. Marius Zaliukas appeared to be pleading with Laszlo to substitute Ismael Bouzid, who had been carrying a shoulder injury, as the teams left the field. Ian Black's introduction seemed to help the visitors compose themselves but two goals inside four minutes decided the tie. After Black seemed to be illegally nudged off the ball, Morales broke clear to supply Ivica Vrdoljak and he arced the third into Kello's top corner. The former Liverpool defender Igor Biscan beat Marius Zaliukas to Morales' corner to head the fourth on the hour.

Kello averted additional damage with a double save from Papadopoulos and Milan Badelj on 68 minutes, aided by Jonsson who then cleared Badelj's second goalbound effort. Papadopoulos struck the post from close range late on, but Hearts' only shot at goal during the 90 minutes was a 50th minute drive from Suso, which Dinamo goalkeeper Tomislav Butina turned away for a corner.

"It is a difficult moment for everybody," said Palazuelos afterwards. "We came here to Croatia with so many fans who spent good money to follow us and I feel very sorry for them because we lost 4-0. It is hard to say any more because everybody can see that the other team was better than us. The problem came when they scored so early and maybe our heads went down.

"It will be difficult to save the tie but anything can happen in football. For now, the most important thing is Sunday against Rangers and then we will see what happens. Then we will play against Zagreb at Tynecastle. We have character and it is possible our heads may be down after this. But it is important we stick together now and show that on Sunday and win the game because it is important for our confidence."

Jurcic was questioned by an unbelievably scathing Croatian media on whether his team could have done better, but kept his composure. "I am very pleased with the way we played and with the result but we have to stay focused for the second leg," he said.

"We managed to impose our style of play, we used a lot of short passes and managed to keep the ball on the ground. I have to thank our players who take all the credit for it because they positioned very well on the pitch and were very quick to react. Maybe it is not the time to criticise some elements of their game, but we also have to improve the way we controlled the rhythm of the match. I have to give thanks to our supporters and the people who prepared the pitch at the stadium. The pitch was okay, maybe somewhat patchy in the centre of the field but it did not influence our way of playing to such an extent. I am pleased with the form of the players because everything was the way we planned it. We were in the best form for the third round of the Champions League and now the Europa League.

"This is not the moment to criticise but apart from the rhythm of the match we also have to be more precise in order to secure good results. We can't be content with the percentage of converted shots. Maybe in this match this was not so important but in difficult matches against tough opponents it will be."

Clearly Jurcic is anticipating sterner tests in the Europa League group phase but, for Hearts, it has seldom been tougher than last night.