Hearts beating is symptomatic of a larger issue
Minutes after Hearts had taken a beating from Istanbul Basaksehir there was a directive by UEFA that nobody should speak.
An awkward silence inside the Tynecastle media room, in many ways a first.
The usual mix zone was now out of bounds, a suspension of the normal order of things with the official announcement of the
Queen’s death impacting on protocols.
Robbie Neilson would answer two questions and that would be that but the truth of it all had been well and truly answered during a 90 minutes where the Hearts boss knew it was a battle of the haves and have-nots.
Just as FC Zurich had done before them, Basaksehir delivered a lesson in Gorgie about the gulf which exists between Scottish clubs and even middle of the road continental outfits.
It’s the reason why Dundee United went into the record books for the heaviest defeat for any of our teams in Europe after that embarrassment against AZ Alkmaar.
Even Sligo Rovers looked a class above Motherwell as Well made an immediate exit earlier this summer and it’s a recurring theme where the penny never drops. Giovanni van Bronckhorst admits Rangers can’t compete in the Champions League – and he’s correct.
It’s not just about the money though. Clubs like Ajax look of such a superior level because they have a system which develops superstar talent and doesn’t rely on buying run of the mill.
Take Basaksehir as an example of what a club such as Hearts have to compete against and you see why it’s always such a struggle. On Thursday night Italian striker Stefano Okaka was a sensation for the Turks, too hot to handle and he was assisted by the brilliant Bertrand Traore who’s on loan from Aston Villa.
Danijel Aleksic is a Serbian international and the Jambos couldn’t get close to him as he picked their backline apart.
That’s what the big bucks buy you and when it comes to a budget comparison between the two clubs they’re a million miles apart.
Hearts will travel to Latvia on Wednesday to face bottom Group A seeds Rigas FS, a side they will target as their best chance to get some points on the board.
It’ll be another example of even the tier-four teams having quality in abundance and that was shown with Rigas FS and their midweek draw against Fiorentina in Florence.
The Jambos know this is a first group stage in 18 years for a reason and this adventure is about learning and trying to enjoy it along the way.
There’s a delusion that our Premiership teams should be going toe to toe with the likes of FC Zurich and Basaksehir but anyone still holding that belief really hasn’t been paying attention.
It has been decades since we developed our own genuinely top quality players. A few exceptions to that rule apart, our league is full of mediocre performers.
Not to mention the English failures attempting to either revive their careers or make the most of getting a game on loan.
Make no mistake, there’s going to be a few more awkward silences ahead in Europe this season and it won’t be down to another ascension to the throne.
There is a delusion that our teams should be going toe to toe with Zurich and Basaksehir