A Historic Opportunity for Hearts
The scene at the end of the match was an overwhelming experience. A cacophony of noise and color filled the visiting end of Easter Road, a testament to the sheer joy and relief that followed. As the dust settled, Claudio Braga, the Portuguese forward, found himself reflecting on the significance of the moment. If this is what it’s like when Hearts beat Hibs, what will happen if they manage to clinch the title?
“I actually thought about that last night,” Braga said with a smile. “We were celebrating because we won a derby, which is really important. Then you realize that if we win something bigger, it could be even more intense.”
With just four games left in the season, Derek McInnes’ side finds themselves in an enviable position. They have restored their lead over Celtic to three points and extended their advantage over a struggling Rangers side to four.
It has been 41 years since a team outside the Old Firm won the Scottish league. For Hearts, the wait stretches back to 1960. Little wonder that the magnitude of what is now within their grasp needs to be emphasized by those who understand the landscape.
“We talk a lot with the Scottish players about it,” Braga added. “It’s something almost unthinkable. They tell us, ‘You’re not even aware of what this means.’ We think we understand, but I don’t think we really do. It would be like when Leicester won the league. Probably something similar.”
Braga’s growing appreciation for the scale of the potential achievement has come through increased attention from his homeland. It’s not just the Scottish public and media who have been conditioned to believe that Celtic and Rangers’ dominance is unbreakable. Across Europe, interest is growing.
“It’s already a big story,” Braga explained. “A lot of people in Portugal are talking about it, and in other countries in Europe and beyond. It’s been quite new for me. I’ve never had this level of interest from Portugal before. When I played in Norway there was some attention, but now it’s much bigger.”
“It’s interesting. They’re even showing Hearts games on TV in Portugal, which wouldn’t normally happen. I don’t know if it’s because I’m Portuguese and playing here, but it’s recognition from my country, which is something to be proud of. It will be even bigger if we become champions.”
The coming weeks may see a flood of camera crews and reporters descending on Gorgie Road. The next fixtures include Rangers, Motherwell, Falkirk, and Celtic—four steps that stand between this group of players and immortality.
Braga’s expectations have changed significantly since he signed from Norwegian side Aalesund last summer. Asked what would have constituted a good season back then, he smiled: “I don’t know. Maybe win a cup? I wanted to get a cup with the club, get some silverware. Then, of course, try to get top three, score some goals and have a good season. Honestly, I just wanted to try to play.”
“That’s what I thought at the beginning: Fight for my place first and then we’ll see. That was the mindset. Now it’s just different.” That’s something of an understatement from the PFA Scotland Player of the Year nominee. Braga’s 17 goals alone have endeared him to the Hearts supporters. His infectious personality has only strengthened the bond.
“It’s very important,” he said. “The guys joke about it in the dressing room, but for me it matters. It gives me motivation. I feel like I can run more, push harder, get more energy from them.”
The joys he brings them are evident. It’s manifest in song. In every sense, they are his supporters.
“I’m here alone, but I came to play football,” Braga explained. “Football is going well, so everything else is good. If my family is okay and football is okay, I’m okay. I’ve lived in other places like Norway, which were harder to adjust to. But if football is going well, everything feels easier.”
Having entered the pre-split fixtures with a one-point advantage, how Hearts got the job done on Sunday was of no concern. All that mattered was they solidified their position.
There will also be no bonus points for artistic merit in the assignments which lie ahead.
“It was horrible to play that game in a way. Horrible,” Braga said of the win over Hibs. “You feel the pressure more when you’re against nine men. You think: ‘We need to score, this should be easy’. They did their job well, and we could have done ours a bit better, but in the end, it worked out. Nobody cares now because we won and that’s all that matters.”
“We had five finals. With finals, you don’t play them, you win them, like Jose Mourinho says. That’s what we needed to do and we did it. Honestly, if we win, I don’t care how the games feel.”
Hearts won’t win the title if they see off Rangers next Monday, but that outcome would all but remove Danny Rohl’s men from the equation. Braga feels the sense of belief among the group is only now growing.
“Most of the confidence comes from being top of the table almost the whole season,” he said. “We just need to keep doing the same things. We’re not known for playing the best football or tiki-taka, but we’re known for pushing our limits and working for each other. We act like a family on the pitch, and that’s what got us here. We just need to keep that going.”
“We shouldn’t be afraid of anyone. We look everyone in the eye, especially at Tynecastle where we haven’t lost. It doesn’t matter who we play. We just focus on ourselves.”
He’ll make a rare exception come Sunday, though, when Celtic travel to Easter Road. As things stand, Martin O’Neill’s men look to be the biggest threat to Hearts’ ambitions. For one day only, McInnes’ men will be rooting for their city rivals.
“A Hibs fan is a strong word!” Braga smiled. “But I’ll probably want them to do some damage.”
