Steve Kean says his Hibs youngsters are relishing playing in Europe and the kids are determined to do everything in their power to keep their fairytale journey going.
The Edinburgh Under 19's side are full of confidence after their 1-0 victory in the first-leg of their UEFA Youth League second round tie at home to Nantes last week. The young Hibees are in France ahead of the second-leg on Wednesday night and they know if they can avoid defeat they will progress and go toe to toe with some of the greatest young talents on the planet in the next round.
The young side saw off Molde over two legs in the first round and academy director Kean says the whole experience has been invaluable for his team, insisting they are in a good place ahead of the crunch match with Nantes. The former Blackburn Rovers boss said: "The preparation has been excellent. It was a really smooth journey and not as complicated as going to Molde. We are missing Josh Landers as he has been called up to the Victory Shield with Scotland, but other than that we have no new injuries and no suspensions so we are very happy with the lads we've got."
Kean says his side are confident, but not complacent, going into the second leg admitting they know better what to expect after last week's performance.
He said: "If we were to think that one goal is going to be enough that would be a various dangerous mindset. We are going to go out and attack and try to score - not in a fashion where we will be super expansive, but we will be calculated in the way that we build up our attacks. We're certainly not going to go out and defend for 90 minutes.
"It's always easier in the second-leg when you have played a team a week ago. We know what their strengths and weaknesses are. I think we can set up to contain - but certainly hit them on the break."
Academy star Murray Aitken made the bench in the first-team's 3-0 win over St Mirren on Saturday and a beaming Kean admitted that ultimately this is the goal for his players as they continue to progress. He said: "We want to try and win competitions and we want to win tomorrow night - but our job is to produce.
"The manager put Murray on the bench and he was probably unfortunate not to get on. But that is another step, if you can move from this squad, through the development squad and get yourself on the bench it just takes you a little closer and it shows you that it is real what we are doing. We are creating a pathway and these lads are getting closer."
Kean says the European journey has given the players a chance to come up against sides with a different style of play and the prospect of progressing excites the group.
He added: "We want to stay in it as long as possible. If we can get through this tie tonight we could be playing in a playoff against some big, big clubs that would find themselves second in the other side of the draw.
"We are just taking it step by step and have a big game to get through first - but it has been excellent. The whole experience of travelling and training in different countries - that is all part of the process of them feeling like professional players."
Youngster Jacob Blaney, who has recently been called up to represent Scotland at under-19 level, added: "It's a very exciting time for everyone at the club because everyone wants to play in these situations and getting their name out there.
"It's the ideal situation and we want to go as far as we can in this competition."
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