Wouter Vrancken has challenged his Hearts players to be ready for their Champions League qualifiers - as he shut down talk of more friendlies being played before then.
The Jambos take on Sturm Graz in the coming weeks with just two more bounce games to play against Arbroath and Rayo Vallecano respectively.
The Belgian has been pleased with what he has seen in pre-season so far from his charges but he hopes they can continue to create chances in the attacking third. He hopes that can become a natural strength of his side's this coming season.
Albeit there is only two more friendlies to work on things before the big second-round tie rolls around.
“It's not possible anymore because otherwise you play too many games and minutes," Vrancken said via Hearts Standard when asked if there would be any more friendlies. "So we make the best of it and we have to be ready for Sturm Graz. Simple as that.”
And on pre-season he added: “Yeah, we create a lot of chances. For sure, because you see them still thinking, as we talked about in Spain also. You see them still thinking about things, so it has to be more natural now. [Against Kilmarnock] we played a really, really strong first half. So that was really pleasing to see.
"[Against Livingston] it would give a better feeling also for the players to come into it when you score one or two in this first half because then it gives more confidence and you have more the flow.
"That would be a better feeling also. Not for me, but for the players on the pitch at the moment to do their thing. Now it's a pity, but that's what our preparation is for.”
