Heart of Midlothian

We asked for your views after Hearts conceded two late goals to lose their Premiership opener 2-1 at Aberdeen.

Here are some of your comments:

Fraser: This is going to be one long, long season…

Jim: We have to be patient, it takes a little time to get a winning team together and after the upheaval at Tynecastle this past couple of months I am not surprised. I believe we still have basis of a championship challenging team but the ease with which we lost goals in quick succession against Sturm Graz and now Aberdeen is a concern. I also think it is time Landry Kabore stepped aside and James Wilson was given his chance alongside Claudio Braga up front.

Campbell: Hearts are rebuilding after the shock of losing the title last season. So many new faces to bed in. No proper pre-season and straight into the Champions League. Can't expect too much this season I'm afraid.

Brian: I know it's early days but Wouter Vrancken is out of his depth. Some of his team selection choices are questionable and he seems to have been unable to establish a connection with the fans. The players need to get a grip at the back and Braga needs a lot more support up front. Its going to be a long season and at the minute we couldn't buy a win if we tried.

Steve: This team is all wrong. We are brittle at the back and strangers on the attack. Aberdeen were woeful and have three points. Unless we sign a strong and commanding centre-half and a proven striker I struggle to see how we make the top six.

Gordon: We will win more than we lose playing like that. Poor defending in last 10 mins cost us plus questionable substitutions. Can we all agree Jordi Altena is NOT a right-back, I can see why Derek McInnes never rated him.

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken: "Really disappointing because we give it away in five minutes.

"It was good in the defending part, until the last five minutes. We were not ruthless enough in boxes. We had to be smarter. We were going in attack with too many people there instead of keeping control and managing the counter, especially when you are 1-0 ahead.

"Second half, we did some good things and we controlled the game. It's a pity because we had to take three points here.

"It will take some time. When the next game is on again, you have to switch again because you cannot go with these feelings again in the next game. e have to be ready and fully focused again."

Aberdeen salvaged a dramatic Scottish Premiership victory against last season's title contenders Hearts with two late goals at a raucous Pittodrie.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Aberdeen could hand a debut to Chris Cadden while Kusini Yengi is several weeks away from fitness.

Recent signings Beau Reus and Laurent Mendy could make their Hearts debuts but vice-captain Stephen Kingsley is facing a lay-off with a hamstring injury.

Christian Borchgrevink (muscle) is set to miss out again while Ageu is still working his way back to fitness, and Craig Halkett (Achilles) is out long term.

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Goalkeeper Beau Reus says he chose to join Hearts in the hope he and Wouter Vrancken can replicate their respective success stories last season in Belgium.

While Vrancken led Sint-Truiden to a third-place finish in the Pro League, and a second manager of the year award, 24-year-old Reus won the second-tier title and promotion with Beveren.

"I didn't know the manager personally, but I know him of course from the great story he wrote in Belgium with Sint-Truiden," the Dutchman said.

"It was an unbelievable story. I only spoke with him one time because we had a friendly game against Sint-Truiden, but he's one of the biggest coaches in Belgium for sure.

"I think last year he made it clear why. He's a really big name in Belgium. I think, if you choose a club, especially if you're a free agent, you look at so many factors in the club, but of course the head coach is one of the biggest points in this. A lot of factors are in his favour."

Reus had the opportunity to play in the Belgian top flight for the first time after spending the past four years in the second tier.

"I know I have to start from zero again," he added. "That was the main reason why I wanted to leave. It's important for me to show myself again and not be in the comfort zone.

"A new challenge, new people. It was a really major thing for me. It was also really important for me that I find a club, a coach and a goalkeeper coach who would really believe in me."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media before Hearts begin their Premiership campaign with a trip to face Aberdeen on Saturday.

Here are the key points from the Tynecastle boss:

• Vrancken says Hearts have the same ambitions as last season and want to again be title contenders despite a summer of change and rocky start to his reign.

• He adds: "It's not about being ready. You always have excuses, but it's not about excuses. It's about results and showing the quality there."

• He says the players are now adapting to a new style of working: "For us, it's being ready as soon as possible, quality-wise, because there are a lot of new things, staff but also players."

• Vrancken has watched "a lot" of Aberdeen games and notes a change in Stephen Robinson's style: "They like to construct a little bit more than they maybe did last year."

• After beginning with a Champions League exit, Vrancken knows a winning start in the league is "really important" and can make "a lot of difference".

• He adds: "Self-confidence and still the extra touch and really believing in what you're doing and having the confidence in executing and stuff like this. Results always help in those things. We have to try to have the results as soon as possible."

• Stephen Kingsley is out with a hamstring injury suffered in the midweek loss to Sturm Graz. Laurent Mendy joins the squad for the first time.

Claudio Braga does not know if he will still be a Hearts player at the end of the summer transfer window, but the 26-year-old forward says any transfer must be good for the club as well as himself. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hearts will face Benfica in the Europa League third qualifying round.

Following a 6-0 defeat to Sturm Graz in the Champions League second-round qualifier, Wouter Vrancken's side knew they would meet the Portuguese side or St Gallen, who led 2-1 after the first leg.

Marco Silva's side turned around that deficit against the Swiss thanks to a thumping 5-0 win in Lisbon, with Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis scoring four and former Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet wrapping up the victory.

Benfica finished third in Portugal's Primeira Liga last season behind Sporting and champions Porto and reached the knockout phase play-offs of the Champions League where they lost to Real Madrid.

If Hearts win the tie, they will be seeded in the play-off round, where their potential opponents in Monday's draw include Northern Irish champions Larne, Lillestrom, OFI Crete, Trabzonspor and Sint-Truiden, which would be a quick return to his former club for Tynecastle manager Wouter Vrancken.

Should Hearts lose, they will drop to the Conference League play-off round, where they will be unseeded.

Among their potential opponents would be Hearts investor Tony Bloom's Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax, Anderlecht, Atalanta, Braga, Copenhagen, Gent, Midtjylland, Monaco, Panathinaikos, Qarabag and Rapid Vienna.

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Full-back Adam Forrester has joined League 1 Ross County on a season-long loan from Hearts.

The 21-year-old has made 35 appearances for the Jambos but spent time on loan at St Johnstone last season after falling out of favour at Tynecastle.

Forrester has not featured in either of Hearts' opening two competitive fixtures this season.

"Adam is a really bright prospect," said County boss Stuart Kettlewell.

"He has played a lot of football at the highest level in this country, including European football, which has given him a really good grounding at a young age.

"He suits the way we are looking to play, and importantly has shown a real appetite to come here."

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• This will be Wouter Vrancken's first league game as Hearts manager. Both of Hearts' last two managers have won their first Premiership game, Neil Critchley beating St Mirren 4-0 in October 2024 and Derek McInnes beating Aberdeen 2-0 on August 2025.

• Hearts have won their opening game in four of the past five Premiership seasons (D1), last losing on matchday one in the division in 2019-20 – which was away to Aberdeen (3-2).

• This is the second successive league season Aberdeen and Hearts have met on the opening day, after the Jambos won 2-0 in 2025-26. Hearts last visited Aberdeen on matchday one in 2019-20, losing 3-2.

• Aberdeen could lose on the opening day in back-to-back league campaigns for the first time since a run of three from 2007-08 to 2009-10.

• Aberdeen have won 10 of their past 11 home league games against Hearts, with the exception a goalless draw in January 2025.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Claudio Braga admits Hearts are finding it difficult to adapt amid a huge summer of change.

New head coach Wouter Vrancken's reign has begun with Champions League elimination as Hearts were thumped 6-0 by Sturm Graz in the second qualifying round.

The Belgian is striving to implement a new style of play, while key players Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin have followed boss Derek McInnes in moving to Rangers after last season's agonising title near miss.

"I feel like it's early, of course," said Portuguese forward Braga.

"It's a lot of change, a lot of new players, a completely different style of play from what it was last year.

"It's hard to deal with all that in a short period of time. We are paid to do this, so we should be able to do it. I think in most parts of the game, we did it.

"That's the message of the coach. It's individual mistakes from our part that we need to not make.

"I feel like for the most part of the game we showed that we can be ready to play good football, exciting football. We just need to create the goals and not make mistakes at the back."

Braga feels Hearts were ruthlessly "punished" for their mistakes by Sturm Graz.

After suffering a 4-0 defeat in the first leg, Vrancken's men lost 2-0 at home on Tuesday night to drop into the Europa League qualifiers, where they will face Benfica or St Gallen.

"It was a different game when you know you lose 4-0 in the first half," Braga said.

"At the same time, we need to take our chances a little bit better. I think we were stronger for the most part of the game and created more and defended well but when we make mistakes against this team, we just get punished. That's what happened.

"Of course, you dream about playing in the Champions League. Even though it was play-offs, it's still Champions League.

"I think it can be a little bit early even though we can't give excuses.

"I think if you see the games, it's not because we play worse than them, it's because we committed a lot more mistakes than them. You pay for the mistakes against these kind of teams."

Hearts fans, we asked for your views after Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat to Sturm Graz which saw the club exit the Champions League qualifiers with a 6-0 aggregate loss to the Austrian side.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Steve: Extremely worrying with a manager trying to play his own style of play but not having the players to play that way. Reminds me of Daniel Stendel and Neil Critchley. No right-back that can tackle, Blair Spittal is too slow and how on earth can you bring on Jamie McCart and Pierre Landry Kabore after last week? Hopefully Josh McPake and Laurent Mendy can play at the weekend. The manager is already on a shoogly peg.

Dan: This Hearts squad just doesn't look ready and it's a reality check. It's as simple as that. In the few games of pre season there's been little cutting edge. Claudio Braga, while a great player and gives 100% every time, can't cope up front on his own without support and runners beyond him. Too many promising attacks broke down with next to no composure in front of goal. The lack of leadership is a huge concern. The start of the new season is just days away and begins at a ground we haven't won in the league since 2016. A pre-season, doesn't define a season but if we make the same mistakes as we have over the Champions League qualifier, Aberdeen are more than capable of taking advantage.

Alison: Reminiscent of the Critchley days. Players do not seem to have a clue how to defend or break up the play and a few of them are nowhere near this level. A strong striker and powerful centre-back are a must as this team looks easily bullied.

Billy: There is a huge disconnect just now, this does not feel like a passionate team and Scottish football demands passion. For every flair player you need a Scott Brown type to lay down the law and connect the fans. We look easy to beat and easy to deflate. Worrying times and I suspect a long August is now ahead. Steve Clarke would be the perfect manager just now.

David: Given the turmoil post-season there is no surprise we haven't come flying out of the starting blocks. Wouter Vrancken is definitely not Wilfried Nancy or Russell Martin and I really like the way he is trying to get the team to play. They are already showing it in spells although some steel is required in midfield. Look how Motherwell started last season and how they developed as season progressed. Keep the faith.

John: We overachieved last season while Celtic and Rangers imploded early on. Half the team and the manager have departed with key personnel now at Rangers. This team is in transition will take time to gel so I'm not expecting great things over the next month and think a top-six finish will be a good result overall. Happy to miss out on European football while we rebuild.

Hearts endured another painful night against Sturm Graz as the Tynecastle side's first Champions League campaign in 20 years ended in a swift exit.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on Hearts' performance via this link

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken tells BBC Scotland: "Tonight it would have been perfect to do something and I have to say the first half was good.

"A lot of intensity, energy to score goals, we made one miscalculation where we gave one chance away but after that we had control of the game.

"It was the same as last week, you drop a little bit around the 60th minute and then you see the difference in physical preparation. Sturm Graz were already six weeks into preparation for the season, us only three.

When asked if the Champions League qualifiers came too soon, Vrancken adds: "Physically yes.

"When you see both games again, what we did with the ball was really good until the moment that you physically cannot bring it anymore and that made it difficult."

On where the goals in his side may come from: "I hope everybody starts scoring. It doesn't matter who as long as the goals come.

"It comes together with physical preparation too, then you make the better decisions and in the final moments you're there to finish it. I cannot blame the players in intentions and how they did it at all.

"It's not about quality. When you play against Sturm Graz who are experienced in Europe and you play like that in the first half in both games then it's not about lacking quality, it's more about we have to make some steps physically.

On Stephen Kingsley, who had to be subbed off in the first half: "We don't know yet.

"It's not looking good and it's a pity for us because he was good in the game, comfortable on the ball and in the duels. I hope it's not too bad."

On Saturday's game against Aberdeen: "We have to go step by step again but we can't wait until we're physically top top to start getting results.

"We have to take the results and go into games like we did today but hopefully finish it."