Exclusive: Hearts ride a wave of optimism hoping to avoid a belt in the mouth – fans to play a huge part against Aberdeen.
The 2025/26 Scottish Premiership begins at Tynecastle on Monday. Derek McInnes has repeatedly prowled Tynecastle Park’s visitors’ technical area.
Standing inside a cauldron of noise, his priority was to calm the locals by suffocating Hearts’ energy on the pitch. McInnes’ tenure as manager of St Johnstone, Aberdeen, and Kilmarnock is over, and he now sits in the dugout across the tunnel. He now wants those same home supporters to turn up the volume and create a raucous, intimidating atmosphere.
Monday marks the new Hearts manager’s Premiership debut. There is some irony in Aberdeen being the visitors, but McInnes is focused on his own environment and how to use it.
Just weeks into his reign, Gorgie is full of optimism after Hearts scored 16 goals in four Premier Sports Cup games and defeated English Premier League side Sunderland 3-0 in Craig Gordon’s testimonial.
Given that all of the Premier Cup games were against lower-division teams, a serious competitive test is still ahead. McInnes’ experience has taught him that football’s unpredictable nature can result in a ‘belt in the mouth’ at any time.
For the time being, he wants to ride the crest of this wave, extending it and bringing the entire Hearts support base along with him. Easier said than done, but many fans are excited about the new-look attacking team he is putting.
Monday will provide some insight into the seriousness of the recent momentum. The 54-year-old can feel excitement building around his new workplace. “I just want us to keep riding this wave as long as we can,” he told the Edinburgh News.
“There is a lot of optimism and a sense of well-being. However, knowing football, the belt in the mouth is just around the corner, so we must stay on our toes.
The squad is getting stronger, and things are becoming clearer as time goes on. Saturday [vs. Sunderland] was a step in the right direction because you can only play what’s in front of you.
“Everyone said we should win those League Cup games, that they were not a test, and Sunderland will be the test.
Then we played Sunderland and dealt with the game and the level of play. The players performed admirably and benefited from the enthusiasm of the audience. That is the type of thing I’m looking for.
I’d like us to feed off the crowd on Monday. “We’re up against an Aberdeen team that is more than capable of causing us problems, but we want to maintain our positive attitude for as long as possible. We understand that there will be setbacks and disappointments as we progress.
We’re just trying to keep everything to a minimum and hope to be a winning team more often than not.” McInnes makes no apologies for his excessive demands on players. He has signed seven new players, with at least two more on the way, and is eager to help good footballers improve.
“I’ve made a lot of demands on the players, and I will continue to do so. We must continue to move forward and improve as the season progresses.
What I can say about the players is that they have given us a lot of encouragement and are not afraid of hard work. Everyone is desperate to be a part of it.
“As a manager, when you enter a new club, the first thing you look for is the boys’ appetite and response. We’re getting it because everyone is desperate to play their role.
We are all looking forward to Monday’s game, and to give us the best chance, we hope to have as many players available as possible.
Then I’ll try to set us up correctly, and then deal with the game. “I don’t see anything wrong with feeling optimistic. I’d certainly prefer it that way. Professional players, no matter how good they are, need to feel confident.
A confident player will always give you a better chance of winning. The lads are in a good place at the minute.”
Hearts fans can influence Scottish Premiership progress
Fans have a significant role to play in this mini Hearts Revolution. Some are still angry about last season’s seventh-place finish, but the new management team has taken a fresh approach. McInnes and his assistants, Paul Sheerin and Alan Archibald, are all seasoned Scottish footballers. They understand what a good Hearts team looks like and how Tynecastle should sound.
“All I would ask is that, if Monday isn’t straightforward, I just want the fans to stay with the team and have that trust,” McInnes explains.
“I understand that we need to build that trust over time, but just trust the team that we are trying to play a certain way that will allow us to win games, so stick with us for as long as they can. “As an opposing manager travelling to Tynecastle, you would try to ensure that was not the case.
If the fans stick with the team and the players form bonds with them, I want that to be a driving force for us. Good or bad, we all want the same thing.The supporters could have a significant impact on what happens on Monday. They certainly can.
“There’s no doubt that if they stick with the team and show their support, the players will benefit from it. Hopefully, we can have a good night’s work because I want Tynecastle to be exactly that type of place.
Not just the atmosphere at the start of the game; I want it to be intimidating for the opposition, and I want it to feel like we’re all in this together.
Until the final whistle blows, everyone must exert maximum effort. Any help we can get from the stands to assist the players would be greatly appreciated.”
Style of play for new SPFL season 2025/26
Locals always react positively to a Hearts team pumping at full speed with aggression and tempo. In an ideal world, McInnes would like it exactly this way.
Aberdeen, as he has in previous jobs, will try to undermine that approach. The hosts’ goal is to dominate the game and overwhelm their guests.
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