Hearts' new manager Wouter Vrancken has endured a difficult start after his side were dumped out of the Champions League qualifiers by Sturm Graz, losing 6-0 on aggregate in the club's heaviest ever two-legged European defeat. The result has prompted alarm among pundits and supporters, coming just 73 days after Hearts narrowly missed out on the Scottish title at Celtic Park, and following the summer departures of key figures including Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin and former manager Derek McInnes to Rangers.

Former Hearts forward Ryan Stevenson was strongly critical, describing the situation as a "freefall" and warning of a lack of connection between the overhauled squad and the fans, having signed 11 new players over the summer. Hearts did create chances, racking up a combined expected goals tally of 2.6 across both legs without scoring, and Tuesday's home defeat was their first at Tynecastle in 15 months. Vrancken argued his side, many of whom retained places from last season, simply weren't physically ready given the lack of competitive warm-up matches, while Stevenson cautioned that patience could run out by mid-September if results don't improve.