Hearts midfielder Peter Haring addressed the media ahead of the Premiership encounter with St Mirren in Paisley. The Austrian spoke in-depth about head coach Steven Naismith, why he enjoys playing with him and how the relationship has developed since their time together as team-mates.

What’s it like having a manager that you played alongside?

“I think everyone is different and it depends on the person. I think to start with, when he came in last year, you knew there was the previous experience of playing together and we get on well. But over time that goes away and he’s your gaffer again. It doesn’t charge much from any other manager.

“From playing with Steven, I know how he sees the game and I do whatever I can to get a spot in the team. And I think so far the work has been excellent that he has done.

“I enjoyed playing with him and under him. For me, it hasn’t changed anything. When I came into the club and he was a player, he was one of the ones you listened to and took advice from and that hasn’t changed and he hasn’t changed.

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“Of course you need to adapt. You are in a different role. But I think the way he talks to me or other players is the same as he did when he was a player. He was always straight and honest and, if you did something he didn’t like, he would tell you straight away.

"He says it himself he was a big moaner and he still is. I don’t think that is a bad thing at all. I think he just demands standards and, to be honest, around us he hasn’t changed too much. He’s not around the team all the time anymore as he was as a player and understands that very well. But the way he talks, the way he is with players is not too different to before.

Why did you listen to him so much at first when you signed?

“When I came to the club, I didn’t know many players, but I knew him from his career and, more than that, just the way he was as a character.

“He would be straight and honest all the time and tell you what you were doing well and not well. He was always a player you would listen to and rely on. So I think going into the manager role he has done well. Obviously you adapt with a different role, but as a person, he is the same.”

What is about playing under Naismith that you really enjoy?

“The biggest thing he demands from us. It’s still a work in progress, being brave and trying to go forward as quickly and as soon as you can. To enjoy it when we have the ball. That’s something we are still working on, but we are improving, I’d say.

“Also the way he explains situations, I think the team can learn a lot the way we go into games.

“He wants us to understand the game, every situation of the game is different and he wants us to understand that and manage the game in different areas of the pitch at different times. That’s things he wants to go into with a lot of detail.”

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Have you seen a big change since the last management team?

“Yes, of course, but that is with every manager. I think no matter who is the manager, if he is new, then new ideas are coming in, a new style of play or whatever you want, but it changes things for every individual and as a team. Even if it is just little things, every manager is different.”

It was said that he was a moaner as a player, is it easier to take as a manager?

“When people say I am a moaner or he is a moaner or whatever, I don’t see it as a bad thing at all. If you moan because you want to help your team-mate or you do it for the benefit of the team, then everyone respects it and no-one says anything against it.

“I think that is a big thing. If you don’t just hammer other players as a team-mate or whatever, everyone understands and accepts and it’s a good thing. If you are moaning to make the team better, I would want everyone to be a moaner.

“As a coach, he is pretty much the same. He just demands standards. If that is in training or games, he’ll let you know and he’s always been like that.”

Has he given you added responsibility to be his voice on the park?

“No, I don’t think so. The way I am as a player, I think he knows the role I have on the pitch and a big part is to help my team-mates, organise and talk. He never specifically demands it from me as that is what I am doing anyway.

“Also, the way he works, he wants to nail things anyway to make everything understandable and clear as much as possible for the whole team.

“I think he gets the message across as good as he can, so he doesn’t really need anyone on the pitch to get his message across. He does it himself.”

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