BJORN JOHNSEN is adamant Hearts’ run-in is anything but meaningless after insisting the club can make history by derailing Celtic’s bid for the treble.
Ian Cathro's beleaguered side visit St Johnstone this evening, seeking their first league win at McDiarmid Park since November 2010, before ending a tumultuous campaign with an onerous trip to face Brendan Rodgers’ rampant champions on Sunday.
Hearts’ bid for Europe may be over, with attention now turning to a pivotal pre-season of rebuilding under Cathro, but Johnsen reckons there is plenty to play for in the next five days as they seek to end their miserable run in Perth and inflict a first domestic defeat on the champions.
The towering striker said: “We still have lots to play for, we want to put down a marker for next season. There is a chance that we could make history on the last day of the season against Celtic if they beat Partick Thistle on Thursday. We need to focus on beating St Johnstone and then take that on to the weekend and hopefully do something special.
“I didn't know about our record at St Johnstone. I just find it difficult playing against St Johnstone, rather than playing at McDiarmid Park. This season St Johnstone have played well and, whilst it is not exactly flair football, it is a very effective and direct game. It is a formula that works for them. They have shown that they are a team to be reckoned with and we want to beat them.”
Johnsen was restored to the Hearts starting line-up against Rangers on Sunday for the first time since April 5, and acknowledges that he has found the adjustment from life under Robbie Neilson to Cathro a challenge.
As the summer approaches, he is under no illusions regarding the importance of a positive close-season, in terms of recruitment and training, in order to hit the ground running next term.
He added: “'I have not been able to get on the pitch because I have not trained well. That comes with the relationship with the manager too, I need to know what he wants from me and that I am someone who could be used positively in his formations. It is a different style from Robbie Neilson who was very direct and I knew when the ball was coming and where to be in that moment. Now it is a little bit different because there are different timings and waiting on play to develop
"People don't think about these kind of things but it takes its toll on how you play and how you interpret the game. Pre-season is very important for me as I need to get right off the bat straight away alongside the new players that come in to the club as we all need to know what is required.”
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