Hearts boss targets another title tilt despite style change

“At the end, you want to compete for the highest position possible, so in this case it’s the same.

“For us, it’s being ready as soon as possible, quality-wise, because there are a lot of new things, staff but also players.

“But still we need the results. It’s about results and showing the quality there.”

Hearts lost 2-0 at home to Sturm Graz on Tuesday for a 6-0 thrashing on aggregate and Vrancken knows his side need to improve at Pittodrie.

“In football, there is no long term, it’s only short term and it’s only what you can do in the next game,” he said.

“At this moment, we’re just thinking about having a good result and trying to go there to take a win. That’s the aim.”

Vrancken has studied Aberdeen closely and expects some tactical changes in Stephen Robinson’s first full season in charge.

“I saw a lot of games of them, of course,” he said. “I think the style that the manager is bringing in, they also like to construct a little bit more than they maybe used to last year.”

Vrancken believes an opening-day victory would provide a boost to morale.

“This would be really, really important,” he added. “I think when we can make that happen, it makes a lot of difference.”