Steven Naismith has performed the European juggling act before. But so had Robbie Neilson and Barry Robson.
And Naismith will be aware of the danger signs flashing just as brightly as the glittering floodlights of the continent. As Hearts power towards a third-placed finish in the Premiership, there is an obvious narrative that surrounds the prospect of guaranteeing group stage football in Europe.
Prestige is important. The opportunity for clubs to mix in such circles is vital for their profiles. But even more important are the wonderful riches on offer from UEFA. Hearts will be able to bank an extra £5million next season when they return to the groups, either in the Europa or the Conference League. That offers a big incentive and boost as they aim to close the gap on the Old Firm. It can help Naismith attract more quality and, in theory, give them an even bigger fighting chance of trying to compete domestically with Celtic and Rangers.
But, as Neilson and Robson found out, there can be a heavy cost if it doesn’t go to plan and if you can’t get it quite right in terms of the balancing act. Hearts’ last venture was educational. After losing to Zurich in the Europa League play-off, a Conference group featuring Fiorentina, Istanbul Basaksehir and Riga offered glamour and a chance of points.
Both were grasped, although it did not come without a price. Hearts suffered domestically, with many of Neilson’s squad having never been over the constant Thursday-Sunday routine, changed training times, travel and extra playing load.
It’s mentally tiring and physically claims bodies through injury. Squads can be decimated – Neilson reported Hearts “down to the bare bones” come the end of the group. By the time they got through the punishing period to the break for the Qatar World Cup, Hearts had just 21 points from 15 games and had exited the League Cup by Kilmarnock.
Neilson didn’t get to the end of that season and neither did Robson in this one after similar experiences with Aberdeen. Hacken were their Zurich. A group with Eintracht Frankfurt, Helsinki and PAOK also brought glamour and points. But again, the strain told domestically. The squad just wasn’t up to the demands.
When they beat Eintracht in their last game in December, they were just one point clear of the Premiership play-off place with 16 points from 15 games. Robson did manage to reach the Viaplay Cup Final but league form had damaged the campaign beyond repair. Like Neilson, he didn’t see out the season.
It’s not just making the groups that can have consequences as this goes down the chain. Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Dundee are scrapping for the last two spots and excitement is coursing through supporters. Quite right, too, given the chance to see your team abroad and for the squad to get a reward for their hard graft.
But those can be just as brutal and taxing an experience once you get there. Sure, the ability to dodge the group stage of the Viaplay Cup is welcome. But those initial Euro ties are demanding and the effects are felt on the home front. Hearts got fourth last year, their reward a couple of ties against Rosenborg and PAOK. Beating the Norwegians was fun but having four points from the first four Premiership games was not. It ramped up unfair pressure on Naismith.
Hibs got fifth and landed a first game in Andorra that resulted in their manager arguing with fans as they lost. Lee Johnson recovered it and the aggregate win over Luzern was a tie to recall with fondness.
What was not worthy of a warm memory was having eight goals taken off them by Aston Villa in their next outing... while not having a single point from the first three top-flight games. Defeats to St Mirren, Motherwell and Livingston gave Hibs a start from which they could not recover. And so Johnson lost his job.
The previous year, the seven goals Jack Ross lost to AZ Alkmaar set about his departure from Dundee United. As for Graham Alexander, he didn’t even get to the first league game with Well after being humiliated 3-0 on aggregate by Sligo Rovers.
Europe is prestigious and financially rewarding. It can also be draining and punishing. Naismith’s done it all before with boots on. He was at Rangers during the run to the UEFA Cup Final in 2008, so he knows how players react to heavy schedules and managing workloads. But so had Neilson and Robson as players.
Killie boss Derek McInnes has been through qualifiers with Dons. Dens boss Tony Docherty was beside him at Pittodrie. Stephen Robinson had involvement with the Steelmen. They’ll relish the chance to have a go. But they are also shrewd operators, aware there are dangers as well as delights on the streets of Europe.
