Simo Valakari Anticipates Significant Opportunity in Hearts Match

Simo Valakari is looking forward to what he describes as a “beautiful game” as his St Johnstone squad prepares to host Hearts this Saturday. The Perth-based team aims to recover from a defeat suffered midweek against St Mirren, while Hearts currently occupy the bottom position in the league standings following a home loss to Kilmarnock. Valakari, who assumed his role at the beginning of the previous month but was kept out of the dugout for two matches due to administrative paperwork issues, expresses enthusiasm about making his debut appearance in the Perth dugout. He stated, “I see it as a big opportunity for us to play a beautiful game in front of our own fans in our home stadium.” Valakari added, “At the same time we are playing against a very good footballing team, for whatever reason they are there [at the bottom of the table], but they have the quality there.” He continued, “We have been concentrating on our thing. They will come here and see this game as [an opportunity] to kickstart their season.” Valakari further explained, “That’s normal, but we need to be ready and it’s always about us, we look at this as opportunity to play here, in front of our own fans and be positive, be brave and do all the little details as well as possible against a quality team. If you sleep even for one moment, they will punish you.” Concluding his remarks, Valakari said, “I have already seen our fans, I felt them and they are great. Our job as a team is to give them joy, give them emotions, give them enjoyment, to watch their own team to play at their home stadium that’s what we are ready to do.”