Claudio Braga is focused solely on Hearts’ Champions League Qualifier with Sturm Graz, describing the match as one of the club’s most significant in recent years.
The 26-year-old has drawn interest from top-flight clubs in France and England following a standout debut season in Gorgie, where he tallied 17 goals and 5 assists. Having secured multiple Player of the Year awards, the Portuguese star has firmly established himself as a target for some of Europe’s elite leagues.
“I’m here, and I’m completely focused on that. Of course, it’s interest, but at the same time, I can’t focus about that while I’m here. I’m here, I’m a Hearts player and that’s all you guys need to know, and that’s all I need to feel. I’m a Hearts player and I’m here 100 per cent.
“I’m trying to be as professional as I can and not care about that, because I leave that to my agents. We had talks in the beginning but I told him exactly the same as I told you guys. I’m here 100 per cent. I’m a Hearts player. I’m really happy.
Of course, there may be interest or not, but that’s something that I can’t control or can’t focus on while I’m here. That would just be bad for me and for the club. I’m just focusing on Sturm Graz now.”
Hearts face Sturm Graz in the 2nd Qualification Round of the Champions League. In a footballing journey that has taken him from Portugal to Norway to Scotland, Braga is excited to achieve a lifelong dream.
“I’ve dreamed of this since I was three or four! Every time I saw football, of course, you play football and you like to watch these kinds of games more than anything.
To watch Champions League and for it to be possible to be a part of it is something really big. Of course, it’s different leagues that we came from, but at the same time, once you get here, because there are so many new guys, you just need to adapt fast, and you can do it because there are a lot of new guys.
The summer arrival of new head coach Wouter Vrancken could see Claudio’s role change. Having been regularly deployed in a front two for Derek McInnes, Vrancken’s 4-2-3-1 will mix up his game, playing in a lone role or deeper number 10 position.
“I think I have two options in this case,” Braga added. “Play as a false nine like I was playing in the first half or as a lone striker with a 10 behind me. It just depends on the position; it’s different of course.
When I’m playing as a striker, I need to hold up a little bit more, and just try to stretch the team a little bit more instead of coming as much. As a 10, it’s more a little bit about freedom and just try to link up and be that extra man in the midfield and then just also go to the box.
“I’m also a striker, so if I’m playing 10, then I can link up and still go to the box, which is good and I like it. But if I’m playing as a striker, that’s the position that I play all my life, so I really like it. I think it’s kind of a striker role.
There’s not that much difference on what he tells me, but I think we have a good communication about that, and of course some details here and there. But whatever he tells me, I try to follow up to the max.
Braga looked ahead confidently to the Sturm Graz tie, and believes that Friday’s friendly win over Europa Conference League Finalists Rayo Vallecano shows they can compete against Europe’s elite.
“I feel like we have a good team. We proved it last year, a lot of new players, but we proved it on Friday also that we can play against international teams and we can still do a good job. I think we need to be confident.
We’re not going to Sturm Graz to lose or to draw. We’re going there to win and make the best result possible and then even better, hopefully, at Tynecastle. I feel we are confident in the locker room.”
Sturm Graz v Heart of Midlothian
Champions League Qualifying Round 2 First Leg
Tuesday 21st July 7:30 PM
Stadion Graz Liebenau