Robbie Neilson has urged Dundee United to put their European horror show in perspective - but hopes to twist the knife deeper with more domestic dismay.
Neilson got in touch with pals at his old club in the wake of Thursday night’s 7-0 humiliation from AZ Alkmaar. The sympathy was genuine but can only last so long as the teams prepare to meet at Tynecastle tomorrow. The Hearts boss - who led United back to the Premiership in 2020 - is expecting a backlash, led by the Tangerines’ old heads.
But, with their own European challenge on the horizon next Thursday, Neilson expects his current team to make it another tough 90 minutes for the visitors from Tannadice. He said: “I still speak to a number of people at Dundee United. I texted them and said they need to put it in perspective. Three years ago, they were playing against Championship teams. They have progressed massively and had a brilliant result last week [against Alkmaar].
“It was probably a 25-minute period where they got turned over [on Thursday] but that can happen against these European teams. They have quite a bit of experience in that team - Charlie Mulgrew, Ryan Edwards, Steven Fletcher, Tony Watt. I’d expect them to be ready to come at it and try to make amends for Thursday night.
“We’ve all suffered defeats over the years and you have to move quickly. It’s easier if the game comes quickly.
“If you’re stewing over it for two or three weeks it can be difficult. Having a game within two or three days allows you to refocus.
“But we have a sell-out on Sunday, the place will be rocking and we are expected to win. The players have to understand that.
“The guys in the team on Sunday have to make sure they stay in the team for Thursday so there is that competitive side. You have to win every week at Hearts. You can’t think about a game two weeks down the line. You need to win this one and then take care of the next one.”
Neilson insists his team selection on Sunday will be purely focused on United and not on their Europa League play-off clash with FC Zurich four days later. He is intent on keeping minds concentrated on domestic aims before European ones.
But the Gorgie men do now know they will be facing the Swiss side and Neilson acknowledges the size of the task that lies ahead. Revealing Stephen Kingsley is set to return after injury, Neilson added: “We’ve started to watch a wee bit of them. We had somebody in Belfast for the first leg [against Linfield] and somebody in Zurich for the second. Our analyst has watched them as well so we will be ready for when it comes.
“They won the league last year, did really well, then lost their manager and a couple of players. They changed their style a wee bit - more counter-attacking last year, but more possession-based now.
“It’s going to be a tough tie, no doubt at all, playing against the Swiss champions. They have good international players within that group and we need to bring our best game to give ourselves any chance.”
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