Craig Levein can’t control the length of the grass at Murrayfield.
Last season the Tynecastle groundsman was given the week off ahead of visits from Celtic as the Edinburgh side attempted to create an even playing field.
At their AGM Premiership clubs voted against applying UEFA standards to the length of grass that matches are played on with Hearts enjoying a 1-0 win over Celtic earlier in the season.
The hybrid pitch at Murrayfield is up to EPL standards which should suit Celtic as they ping the ball around on a pitch noticeably bigger than Tynecastle.
With Hearts sitting at the top of the Premiership table Levein has been talking up his side’s chances but on a neutral field he knows that the odds move towards their opponents.
“The pitch size is the same size as at Hampden, which is fine,” he told the Edinburgh News. “The grass length – just to let you know – will be between 26 and 30mms. I am not worried about those types of things as much as I was last season.
“I feel our team last season, when we beat Celtic, was based on running, energy and pressing. We are different this year. A lot of the players we had last season could do that but could not do other things. This time we have better players who can do better things with the ball. It means we might have it a little bit more or longer than was the case last season.
“For us being the team that was doing the chasing most of the time last season, the size of the pitch was important. Not quite so much this season. Although Celtic, of course, you would argue having the better players then the bigger pitch should suit them better.
“I have more faith because of the nature of player we have. They are uncomplicated and hungry to be better. And motivation coming from within is always so much better than someone pushing or pulling or cajoling or hitting you with a big stick. It’s never the same kind motivation.”
Celtic trained at Murrayfield on Tuesday- the ground that Hearts used for four home matches last season.
