David Gray believes Hibs fans will 'make a huge difference' in Denmark tonight
The team travelled from Edinburgh yesterday afternoon, before training in the MCH Arena where they will take on the 2024/25 Danish Superliga runners-up.
After competing in vigorous pre-season friendlies, including fixtures against Dutch giants Ajax and English Premier League club AFC Bournemouth, Gray believes his team are as prepared as can be for their first continental challenge.
'Players have come through the games, got minutes into their legs,' said Gray.
'This match is why we have been doing what we have been doing, playing against a lot of tough opposition within pre-season.
'I've not been getting carried away with results. From a physical point of view, we feel we've got the players in a good position.
'We were a little later arriving [in Denmark] so we had to tweak our session,' he added on matchday minus one preparations for Hibs' first competitive match of the season.
'It was important to come to the stadium and to train on the pitch. I've experienced it myself and it gives the players a little familiarity.
'The training session was bright and bubbly. All the hard work has been done, we're all geared up to the match.'
Hibs supporters have travelled to Herning, Denmark, in great numbers – and noise – ahead of the club's first European match of the 2025/26 campaign.
While remembering a former trip to Brøndby, Gray spoke on how crucial the Hibees' support is for the team in Denmark.
'The fans will make a huge difference. It's their reward as well. At the start of last season, we went through tough times. The fans, as they always do, showed up in numbers.
'This is their reward, European football is what everyone wants to see.
'I'm sure it will be a fantastic occasion and hopefully we can go home with a positive result.'
Gray has almost a full squad at his disposal, missing only three players in total, including two long-term injuries anticipated ahead of preparations for the first leg.
'Millsy (Lewis Miller) has not made it. Joe Newell and Rudi Molotnikov, the two longer-term ones, haven't made it.
'Apart from that, everyone is fit and healthy. The players are all in a really good place.
'Millsy was just an impact injury.
'From a squad point of view, we feel we are in a really good position and the players are chomping at the bit to be selected.'
Like this:
Like
Related
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
17 minutes ago
- Scotsman
'Not experienced that' - David Gray's Belgrade message as Hibs head coach steps into the unknown
Hibs braced for hostile environment in Serbian capital Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs head coach David Gray has told his players they will need to deal with a 'real hostile environment' against Partizan Belgrade. The Hibees head to the Serbian capital looking to grab a result in the first leg of their Conference League third qualifying round tie this evening in front of a Partizan crowd that is known for making life difficult for the opposition. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Speaking ahead of the match, Gray said: 'It's something the players will need to make sure they're ready for. A real hostile environment, very intense when you see their games, their support and everything that goes with that. Hibs head coach David Gray during a training session on Tuesday ahead of the trip to Belgrade. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'So I think it's a different challenge and one the players should relish and look forward to. A lot of them won't have experienced that before. 'Myself, I've not experienced that as a coach, certainly. So I think that's something different. We need to prepare the players for it and make sure they are ready for it. 'But it's also a really good opportunity to go over there again and test yourself against a top-level opposition. And the level of opposition and the level of performance required is going to have to be similar to the Midtjylland games.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Despite their 2-1 aggregate loss to the Danes with the impressive European pedigree, the fact that Midtjylland needed a spectacular goal in the dying embers of injury time of extra-time at Easter Road to get the job done is testament to the work done by Gray. He feels his team are ready for this challenge. Add in the fact that Hibs kicked off their Premiership campaign on Sunday with a decent 2-1 victory against Dundee at Dens Park and it's easy to see why Gray is approaching the fixture in confident mood. 'You need to take loads of confidence from that,' he insisted. 'I think I said that you always need to believe you can go and get a result. 'We're a very good side. And we've demonstrated that already. And then obviously going into this game off the back of a real positive first league win of the season away from home, which is never an easy place to go, shows we're in a real good place at the moment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kieron Bowie scored twice for Hibs in the 2-1 win over Dundee on Sunday. | SNS Group 'I think the history with Partizan Belgrade and everything that comes with that, going over there will be a real difficult test. We know that. 'Whether we're favourites or underdogs, I'm not really too fussed to be honest. It's about concentrating on what we can do and making sure the players are ready for it, ready for the challenge, the game plan is in place. "But we go into every single game trying to win the game. We're not going over there to not try to do that. It doesn't matter who we're playing. That is the mindset. I don't think you can go into a game not trying to win it. So that doesn't change. "It's just a different environment that we're going into. You obviously have to factor in the quick turnaround, you factor in the travel, everything else. But this is why you do it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This is what the players are all prepared for. And you should really look forward to the opportunity and the challenge.'
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Djeidi Gassama brace puts much-changed Rangers in control against Viktoria Plzen
The Gers boss hit out at some of his squad following their deflating 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Saturday, questioning mentality, egos and application, and captain James Tavernier and midfielder Nicolas Raskin were the biggest names among the expected changes. Martin got the required reaction as winger Djeidi Gassama scored after 15 minutes with his third European goal in three ties before returning striker Cyriel Dessers added a second from the spot just before the interval. Gassama, signed this summer from Sheffield Wednesday, scored a third in the 51st minute to put the Govan side into a commanding lead and eventually a comfortable win. The Light Blues will be heavy favourites for the return game in the Czech Republic next Tuesday, with a play-off tie against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaiting the winners. After pointing the finger at his under-performers at the weekend, all eyes were on Martin's team selection and he made significant changes. Along with Tavernier and Raskin – arguably Gers' best player last season – Danilo and Kieran Dowell were left out. New signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, made his debut – and was terrific – with left-back Jefte, midfielder Lyall Cameron and Dessers returning while John Souttar was named captain. The Ibrox crowd was more subdued than usual on a big European night, initially. In the seventh minute Plzen's lofty striker Rafiu Durosinmi headed a cross from Amar Memic past the post but it was Gassama who struck first, playing a one-two with Dessers at the edge of the visitors' box before confidently curling the ball past keeper Florian Wiegele. After Gers defender Nasser Djiga brilliantly blocked a goal-bound shot from visiting captain Matej Vydra, Antman's drive from a Gassama cut-back at the other end was cleared off the line by Vaclav Jamelka. Bizarrely Raskin, warming up on the sidelines, was booked by French referee Clement Turpin for apparently trying to interfere at a Plzen throw-in as the Czech side began to exert some pressure. However, when a driving run into the box by Antman ended with him being barged over by Vydra, referee Turpin pointed to the spot for a soft penalty and Dessers sent Wiegele the wrong way. Rangers started the second half strongly and within three minutes midfielder Mohamed Diomande struck the bar with an effort from the edge of the box. However, the third soon arrived as Gassama grabbed his second when he bulleted in a header from a pinpoint Antman cross from the right. There were occasional moments of sloppiness in the Gers ranks throughout the rest of the second half but they remained unpunished. Raskin, Danilo, and Tavernier all came off the bench when the job was done, before in the 83rd minute Gers keeper Jack Butland made a good save from a powerful drive from Memic. After the negativity of Fir Park, it was a more positive performance from the home side although there has to be much more to come from Martin's men.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Djeidi Gassama brace puts much-changed Rangers in control against Viktoria Plzen
The Gers boss hit out at some of his squad following their deflating 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Saturday, questioning mentality, egos and application, and captain James Tavernier and midfielder Nicolas Raskin were the biggest names among the expected changes. Martin got the required reaction as winger Djeidi Gassama scored after 15 minutes with his third European goal in three ties before returning striker Cyriel Dessers added a second from the spot just before the interval. Gassama, signed this summer from Sheffield Wednesday, scored a third in the 51st minute to put the Govan side into a commanding lead and eventually a comfortable win. The Light Blues will be heavy favourites for the return game in the Czech Republic next Tuesday, with a play-off tie against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaiting the winners. After pointing the finger at his under-performers at the weekend, all eyes were on Martin's team selection and he made significant changes. Along with Tavernier and Raskin – arguably Gers' best player last season – Danilo and Kieran Dowell were left out. New signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, made his debut – and was terrific – with left-back Jefte, midfielder Lyall Cameron and Dessers returning while John Souttar was named captain. The Ibrox crowd was more subdued than usual on a big European night, initially. In the seventh minute Plzen's lofty striker Rafiu Durosinmi headed a cross from Amar Memic past the post but it was Gassama who struck first, playing a one-two with Dessers at the edge of the visitors' box before confidently curling the ball past keeper Florian Wiegele. After Gers defender Nasser Djiga brilliantly blocked a goal-bound shot from visiting captain Matej Vydra, Antman's drive from a Gassama cut-back at the other end was cleared off the line by Vaclav Jamelka. Bizarrely Raskin, warming up on the sidelines, was booked by French referee Clement Turpin for apparently trying to interfere at a Plzen throw-in as the Czech side began to exert some pressure. However, when a driving run into the box by Antman ended with him being barged over by Vydra, referee Turpin pointed to the spot for a soft penalty and Dessers sent Wiegele the wrong way. Rangers started the second half strongly and within three minutes midfielder Mohamed Diomande struck the bar with an effort from the edge of the box. However, the third soon arrived as Gassama grabbed his second when he bulleted in a header from a pinpoint Antman cross from the right. There were occasional moments of sloppiness in the Gers ranks throughout the rest of the second half but they remained unpunished. Raskin, Danilo, and Tavernier all came off the bench when the job was done, before in the 83rd minute Gers keeper Jack Butland made a good save from a powerful drive from Memic. After the negativity of Fir Park, it was a more positive performance from the home side although there has to be much more to come from Martin's men.
