Peter Haring can't wait to experience European football with Hearts as he revealed that was another reason behind him signing a new deal.
Robbie Neilson's men jet out to Switzerland for their Europa League play-off clash with FC Zurich knowing they are potentially just 180 minutes away from the group stages. The duo go head to head tomorrow night before the return under the lights at Tynecastle next week. It is not all doom and gloom for the loser of the tie with the guarantee of Europa Conference League football already in the bag.
But Haring wants to reach the tournament proper of the second tier competition after waiting four years to experience European football with the Jambos. Hearts have started the new campaign off in brilliant fashion with seven points from a possible nine. The complete opposite of their opponents who have only picked up two points from five matches. On his excitement of the European adventure, he told Edinburgh Evening News: “Massively. That was another reason why I wanted to stay at Hearts to experience that with this club.
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READ MORE: Hearts' rivals FC Zurich sit bottom as they strike late in basement clash in Europa League warm up
“Every year since I've been here we've tried to get that and finally we are in Europe. We want to get through and there is a bit of pressure on you. I want to enjoy the coming weeks, trips and games. Hopefully we can get the best results possible.
“We had [domestic] games in midweek at Tynecastle, but it is something special and something most of our team haven't experienced yet. We are looking forward to it and hopefully we do well in Europe as well.”
One man the Hearts fans will be familiar with is Donis Avdijaj. He had a spell in Gorgie a couple of years back and while Haring can't remember too much about his spell in the capital, he played alongside him in Austria as he highlighted his qualities.
He said: “I don’t know him so much from Hearts. When he was here I wasn't playing, I wasn't even training with the team. I was doing my own stuff due to injury. I remember from playing with Sturm Graz in Austria.
"He was there for two years I think and did really well there before going back to Schalke. I knew him from there and knew he is definitely a player who has his qualities.”
FC Zurich coach Franco Foda spent more than four years in charge on Austria's national team, so Haring has an idea of what he and his team-mates can expect tomorrow night.
He added: “I played with a few players who played under him. I think he always wants to play football and control the game. I don't think his idea of football will have changed.”
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