Braga: 'Every player has ambitions' | Vranken: Hearts have to focus on future

Hearts striker Claudio Braga has opened up on his future, insisting "every player has ambitions".

The Portuguese forward has attracted attention after a standout first season at Tynecastle, which saw him named PFA Scotland Player of the Year.

But the 26-year-old is fully focused on the season ahead with the Jambos.

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"I feel like it's something that as a professional you can't be distracted with. I need to try my best to not hear worries around me and everything," Braga told Sky Sports News ahead of Hearts' season opener against Aberdeen.

"Everything else is in talks with my agents and everything.

"I don't really want to be in that unless something is really on the table.

"Of course, every player has ambitions and everything, but I have a contract with Heart of Midlothian and I would only go if it's something good for me and for the club."

Hearts lost out on an historic Premiership title last season with an agonising final-day defeat at Celtic Park

Braga is determined to avoid a repeat.

"It feels that the hunger is a little bit more now because you lost that title so close to the end, so you don't want to have that feeling again," he added.

"Of course it's going to be difficult, nobody says it's going to be easy and it's definitely the odds are maybe not on us or everything else.

"A lot of changes, a lot of new coaches, new players, new style of play. I think it's going to take a while to get it there, but once we get there, I think we'll be good."

Vrancken: Put your energy into what has to come

New Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has told the players to forget last season's title miss and focus on the next challenge.

The Belgian took charge last month following Derek McInnes' move to Rangers.

"In sport, it's always looking forward and to put your energy into what has to come," he told Sky Sports News.

"I was in this position a few years ago and missed the title in two minutes. You have to get over the emotions of what you missed and then it goes forward again."

Hearts are away to Aberdeen in their season opener on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, aiming to secure their first win at Pittodrie since 2016.

"You have to always be confident and I think we have a good chance," the 47-year-old added.

"I think when we show the quality that we have and we do it all together, then we have for sure a chance to do something there and we have to break this tradition.

"We did our analysis. I saw myself some of their games in the preparation of last year so we know what's coming.

"We know it's not an easy game of course and not an easy away game so we have to be fully prepared."

A number of influential players have left Tynecastle Park this summer, including captain Lawrence Shankland and midfielder Cammy Devlin, who also chose to make the switch to Rangers.

Ten new players have joined the club, while Stuart Findlay and Rogers Mato have made their loan moves permanent.

On transfers, the Belgian boss added: "I put my energy in the players who are here at the moment.

"I think it's my job to put my energy in this and the things that I can manage.

"What's coming or what's going out, you'll never know in a window.

"It's also part of football so I don't put my energy in this."