Hearts FC coach Wouter Vrancken is buzzing, and honestly, you should be too. After an impressive pre-season victory over La Liga side Rayo Vallecano at Tynecastle, Vrancken believes his squad is finally clicking, just in time for Tuesday night's massive Champions League qualifier against Sturm Graz. The Belgian head coach, who took over this summer, is seeing exactly what he's been demanding, and the progress has only strengthened his belief that the team is embracing his vision. This isn't just talk, either; the improvements are becoming super clear.
Vrancken Sees the Progression, And It's Contagious
Vrancken has been watching his side evolve steadily since their first friendly against St Mirren, and the evolution is paying off. He was confident from the start because these players are so involved and hungry for feedback, eager to learn new things. "But you don’t know the time frame. You don’t know when they are ready. But you see the progression. You see the progression when you start at St Mirren towards today," he said. He's seeing a lot of what he wants, including intensity, and he can't ask for more. Plus, watching some guys individually grow during the games has been "nice to see." It sounds like the squad is not just buying into his ideas, they're straight-up owning them.A Good Kind of Headache: Depth Is Key
That impressive Vallecano performance has also given Vrancken a welcome selection headache for their European opener. Instead of having a settled starting eleven, he admits several players have forced their way into contention. This is exactly what you want as a coach: competition. He stressed that squad depth is going to be absolutely crucial as the fixtures start piling up. "Today made it more difficult, luckily," Vrancken stated. "For sure you want to see some guys standing up and taking responsibility and showing themselves." He knows they'll need more than just eleven players for all these games, especially considering fatigue. "We will need everybody in those games. We know that not everybody can go for 90 minutes full. So we need everybody in the team to help us." That's the mindset of a team ready for a deep run.Amadou Ba-Sy's Instant Impact
One player who absolutely stood up and demanded attention was summer signing Amadou Ba-Sy. In his first 45-minute appearance against Vallecano, the striker bagged two goals. That's right, two goals! He impressed big time, especially since he's only recently recovered from illness. Vrancken was "very happy" because it was Ba-Sy's first real action after a "difficult start for him here, being sick and stuff." While he's still building his fitness, with Vrancken noting his intensity dropped after about 35 minutes, those goals are pure gold for his confidence. "But it’s good for him when you score goals as an attacker. It gives confidence," Vrancken confirmed. His incredible display came too late to make the initial Champions League squad submission, but Vrancken hinted there might still be a "possibility to change some things. One or two, I don't." Imagine getting that guy on the roster! Tuesday night against Sturm Graz is going to be massive. Hearts are showing they've got the talent, the depth, and the belief. This team is ready to make some noise.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.