Hearts Women manager Eva Olid says the preparation for this Sunday’s match against Hibernian at Tynecastle Park has been like any other week.
Sunday will be anything but normal, with Olid’s side preparing to welcome over 6,500 Jambos to Gorgie as they look to set a new attendance record for a Hearts women’s match at Tynecastle.
As well as the three precious SWPL points on the line, the women in maroon will be looking to hold onto the Capital Cup, which they lifted back in September in emphatic fashion, following a 4-0 win at Easter Road.
In previous seasons, Olid accepts that the occasion of playing at Tynecastle has impacted on her players and they haven’t performed to the levels they can, but insists her side are better prepared than ever to head into an eagerly anticipated match.
“Every week, we have the same way to work,” she said. “The same structure of training. The same meetings. We don’t do anything special this week. We work so hard every week, and this week has been no different.
“The only thing I try to speak to the players about this week is the mental part and the emotional part. You need a little extra preparation in terms of that. In terms of football and game plan, it is every week \“I feel the group this season are more prepared. Especially mentally. I think it’s been a mental thing when we have played at Tynecastle in previous seasons. Emotions were too much and that affected our performance. I have total confidence that this time it’s going to be totally different.”
“Last time, to win the derby, of course it was just three points, but to win there for the first time, it was so special, but this time to win here, in our own stadium, would be even more special.”
It’s been a strong start to the campaign for the Jambos, who sit only one point off league leaders Glasgow City, but Olid admits Hearts will continue to take it one game at a time and see where it takes them.
“Our expectations haven’t changed. I always say we have to go week-to-week, work hard, get the three points and see where we can go. We never specified an objective. We know we want to be pushing high up the table, but we didn’t specify because you never know.
“The important thing is to be there. Not to have this points difference like in previous seasons with the top teams in the league. That is where we want to be."
Finally, there was positive news on the team news front as the Spaniard confirmed strikers Georgia Timms and Kerry Beattie will both be available for selection following a short spell on the sidelines with injury.
Tickets for the match are free and remain available in person from the Hearts Ticket Office or online at Hearts e-tickets.
