Vrancken on title target, Hearts changes & Pittodrie opener

Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media before Hearts begin their Premiership campaign with a trip to face Aberdeen on Saturday. Here are the key points from the Tynecastle boss: Vrancken says Hearts have the same ambitions as last season and want to again be title contenders despite a summer of change and rocky start to his reign. He adds: "It's not about being ready. You always have excuses, but it's not about excuses. It's about results and showing the quality there." He says the players are now adapting to a new style of working: "For us, it's being ready as soon as possible, quality-wise, because there are a lot of new things, staff but also players." Vrancken has watched "a lot" of Aberdeen games and notes a change in Stephen Robinson's style: "They like to construct a little bit more than they maybe did last year." After beginning with a Champions League exit, Vrancken knows a winning start in the league is "really important" and can make "a lot of difference". He adds: "Self-confidence and still the extra touch and really believing in what you're doing and having the confidence in executing and stuff like this. Results always help in those things. We have to try to have the results as soon as possible." Stephen Kingsley is out with a hamstring injury suffered in the midweek loss to Sturm Graz. Laurent Mendy joins the squad for the first time. [BBC]