Premiership leaders Hearts have been forced to scrap their proposed training trip to Dubai amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East.
The Tynecastle side — who moved seven points clear at the top after a 1-0 win at home to Aberdeen yesterday — were due to fly to Dubai tomorrow for a warm-weather training camp to tune up for the season finale.
However, with the United Arab Emirates city one of several locations rocked by explosions yesterday as part of Iran’s response to US and Israeli strikes on Tehran — and the UAE closing their airspace and last night considering ‘its full right to respond’ — Hearts bosses swiftly shelved their plans.
Manager Derek McInnes, who had Sir Alex Ferguson as a VIP guest during the win over the Dons, insisted the club will revert to training as normal at Riccarton as they utilise the two-week break before their next fixture.
‘I don’t think we’ll be going away,’ he said. ‘I think there’s more important things going on. That’s fine.
‘It is disappointing, obviously, because we spoke of the benefits of it, but we might push it down the line, because there’s going to be opportunities, I think, between now and the end of the season.
Claudio Braga celebrates his goal in Hearts’ 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Tynecastle
Derek McInnes was hoping his Hearts side would go to Dubai for a training camp
Braga (centre) takes the plaudits as Hearts extended their lead at the top of the Premiership
‘We’ll just train as normal in Edinburgh.’
Hearts eased past the Dons thanks to Claudio Braga’s 28th-minute goal to go seven points clear of second-placed Rangers having played a game more.
It was a welcome return to form for McInnes’ side, who had looked to be feeling the pressure of late amid a run of crippling injuries, but the Gorgie gaffer believed his team more than deserved their victory in the end.
‘It felt like a big game, I think the fans made it that, and the situation in terms of the context of the league made it that,’ said McInnes, who reported that midfielder Eduardo Ageu will undergo a thigh operation on Tuesday. ‘It looks like a tight scoreline but I thought it was exactly the type of performance we needed it to be. We had more crosses in today’s game than we’ve had for a long time. It was the type of performance I was hoping for.
‘In an ideal world, you would want a second goal to enjoy that last part, but it was a good three points, no more than we deserved.’
McInnes added of former Manchester United boss Ferguson’s presence at Tynecastle: ‘He sat in the office for about an hour before the game. He got here early and I’ll catch up with him when I finish with you guys (the media).
‘It was nice for him to see Tynecastle the way it was and see a winning performance. He’s watched us a lot this season and he’s quite tuned in to what we’re doing, so I’m grateful that he’s made the effort to come and see us today.’
Aberdeen caretaker boss Peter Leven felt his side should have been given a stonewall second-half penalty when Michael Steinwender challenged substitute Stuart Armstrong in the area, insisting that his defender Liam Morrison was red-carded for something similar in last weekend’s game against Dundee.
‘We had a player sent off last week when (Tony) Yogane cut across Liam Morrison and, for me, it was similar,’ said Leven. ‘I have watched it back.
‘Stuart Armstrong gets across him and it is not shoulder to shoulder. He actually leans into the back of him with a knee as well, so I don’t know why it is not a penalty.
‘I didn’t speak to the fourth official as he was giving me absolutely nothing, but VAR should have looked at it.’
McInnes, who played down accusations he pushed Aberdeen midfielder Dennis Geiger at time-up, was honest enough when asked whether his heart was in his mouth in the immediate moments after that incident.
‘I’m not going to lie, aye,’ said the Hearts boss. ‘You’re never really sure with these things. I haven’t seen it back again, so I don’t know. I know Peter thought there was a handball for a penalty. I didn’t see it that way, but we agree to disagree on that.’
Aberdeen interim boss Peter Leven was unhappy with a second-half penalty call
On the row with Geiger at time-up, which sparked a furious reaction from the German, McInnes added: ‘He shook hands there, he’s fine. It wasn’t me that pushed him, so we’re fine. He wasn’t happy, but I don’t know. No issues there.’
Leven, however, insists Geiger was convinced it was the Hearts boss who was the guilty man.
‘He said McInnes kind of nudged him in the back when he walked past him. I will need to watch that back,’ said Leven.
‘I asked Derek the question: “Why is my player saying you nudged him in the back?”.
He said: “No, I never”, so I said okay.’
