Hearts would struggle to hold their own in Serie B based on Thursday's performance, according to Italian media.
Robbie Neilson' s side have been blasted as unfit for Italian football's second tier, with their away performance against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League labelled a disaster. In particular, the Jambos' back line was branded a "broken umbrella" with Alex Cochrane in particular facing tough criticism after his show at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Hearts were the visitors in Florence on Thursday but their hopes came crashing down sharpish as Luka Jovic put the Serie S side in front after just six minutes. And things were from back to worse in the opening 45, with Robbie Neilson's men going in four goals behind at the break. Despite Stephen Humphrys hitting home early in the second half, it was certainly a night to forget for the Gorgie side how suffered a 5-1 mauling.
And the men in maroon have since be subject to criticism, with Italian journalist Fabio Bianchi going so far as to say the Tynecastle outfit would struggle to stay afloat if playing week in week out in Serie B. Bianchi focused in on Cochrane as well as branding Cammy Devlin 'too light' for La Viola before claimingJorge Grant 'had his pants pulled down' by Sofyan Ambrabat.
Only a select few Hearts players were deemed passable, with goalscorer Stephen Humphrys and Andy Halliday escaping criticism, with honourable mention to Barrie McKay for "flashes in the dark" and the "battle ready" Michael Smith.
In La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Bianchi wrote: "The historic union between the cities has little to do with it. The modesty of Neilson's team has something to do with it, who would struggle to save himself in our B. But, with this in mind, Fiorentina regained some confidence in front of the opposing goal, even more than in the first leg."
There was some sympathy for Craig Gordon, but the compassion stopped there. It went on: "(Cochrane), a disaster, starting from his marking leaving Jovic who thanks and hits the net without even jumping. He ends the night with a bludgeon from Saponara." Bianchi added.
With fellow defender Stephen Kingsley also savaged. "Zero protection in front of goal, he doesn't even know who he's going to get," the Italian journalist said.
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