Hearts defender Michael Smith has last laugh as ‘funny’ training session pays off

It may have seemed that those who enjoyed a chuckle while digesting tales of training sessions with ropes and goggles were laughing at Hearts. But, according to defender Michael Smith, the joke is on them as they were actually laughing with the Gorgie side.

Defender Michael Smith believes Daniel Stendel's novel approach in training has helped steady the ship at Hearts. Picture: Paul Devlin/SNS

Backing manager Daniel Stendel’s methods, the influential Northern Irishman said the switch in training techniques had helped lighten the mood and alleviate some of the stress. It also helped the side address some of their defensive vulnerabilities, although he revealed that a heart to heart between players and management had also played a part in ironing out some of those issues.

“As a group we had a little chat,” said the 31-year-old. “We felt a bit open and a bit vulnerable at the back and we’ve solidified. I’ve dropped back into right-back and feel a little bit more comfortable and I’ve helped the lads, using my experience.

“The two boys in the middle, Bozzy [Oliver Bozanic] and Loic [Damour] have been sensational and hopefully they can continue that.

“We’ve had lots of meetings as defensive units and stuff like that and I think overall we’ve come to the decision that it is right to solidify ourselves and let the front six do the work. As a full-back I’ll get forward but only at the right times and as a team we’ll be solid. We’ll still do the high press but only at the right times when 
everything is set up properly. I feel a lot more solid [playing that way] and speaking to Clevid [Dikamona] and Halks [Craig Halkett], they feel a lot more solid, too. The two boys in the middle have helped us a lot.

“As a team and a squad of players we probably took the high press a bit too literally and we were just bombing forward at every chance, trying to get the ball. But we’ve steadied the ship now and conceded one goal in the last two against two very good teams and we feel we can definitely work from a more solid base.”

With ground to make up in the race to avoid relegation, the Scottish Cup win over Rangers, backed up immediately by the capital derby triumph over neighbours Hibs, has bolstered confidence and, albeit temporarily took them off the foot of the Premiership.

Facing Motherwell at Tynecastle tomorrow, they will be looking to prove they have now reached a stage where they can sustain a winning run. If they can then Smith says the ropes and goggles, along with some other alternative training methods, will have played a part in putting smiles on the face of everyone at the club, as well as those outsiders who originally sniggered at the concept.

“It definitely helps. I have seen the rope thing happen loads of times before, at 
different clubs and with 
different managers,” he said. “Maybe it’s not the actual training with them that helps but the camaraderie helps give us that little bit extra and the last couple of games have shown that it does work.

“I know there was a lot of social media about it and blah, blah, blah and people talking about the goggles and the rope but, no, it has definitely helped us in the last two games. You get uptight at times in training when things are not going well and things like that lighten the mood and it helps you relax. If you relax as a player then you play better so it was a good call by the gaffer to do stuff like that. It kept things interesting and it was a funny training session.”

Revealing that it was the 
centre-backs who had to don the goggles, insisting his eyesight is bad enough without adding the eyewear into the mix, Smith said the consequences, especially the fresh-air kicks had added to the mirth and praised Stendel for thinking outside the box.

On the back of team-bonding sessions and army boot camps early in his tenure, the novel approach allows him to add some light to the shade.

“He can be serious but he can also have a laugh and a joke,” said Smith. “There are times when you need to be serious, definitely, but you can also lighten the mood and help players relax and have a 
laugh.

“It is not all about going out on to the training ground and shouting and screaming to get your point across.

“You can have a laugh with players, put your arm around them, whatever the player needs. I think the manager is great at doing that.”