Hibernian Under-19s head coach Darren McGregor is urging his players to grasp the opportunity to play on the European stage under the Easter Road lights tonight.
The youngsters will take on Kosovan outfit FC 2 Korriku in the UEFA Youth League domestic champions path second round.
As CAS Elite Youth League champions, Hibs return to continental competition for the first time in almost three years, and McGregor now hopes his side takes hold of the incredible opportunity ahead of them.
“The lads are really excited off the back of a successful season last year,” McGregor told Hibs TV. “I think they’ve afforded themselves this opportunity, so you just hope they grasp it.
“I was part of the last group that were really successful against Molde, against Nantes, against Dortmund. I know what to expect, but for a lot of these lads it’ll be their first time. But we just hope they embrace it.
“We hope they embrace the challenge. They’ve done ever so well to get here. It’s an unbelievable achievement and it’s a great stage to actually go out there and not only show our own fans, but to show Europe as well that we can compete against anybody.”
Over two years on from the triumphs over Molde and Nantes, and that fantastic occasion at Easter Road which saw over 7,500 supporters back the youngsters against German giants Borussia Dortmund, there is an opportunity for a new crop of players to go on another memorable journey.
While a handful of players were in that squad – which also featured the likes of Murray Johnson, Kanayo Megwa and Jacob MacIntyre – there are many within the current title-winning team who will be taking to the Easter Road pitch for the first time competitively.
During the week, the youngsters trained at the stadium, which McGregor describes as an “amazing” experience.
“We know that it was a luxury, and I pushed probably a wee bit hard for it as well because I wanted the lads to experience that. A large majority of them haven’t actually been on the pitch or in the changing room, so they allowed us to go onto the pitch for a short period of time.
“That just plants a seed and makes sure that when we actually arrive there on Wednesday that it’s not new to them. It’s just giving them that experience and showing them what a great club Hibernian Football Club actually is. The pitch was absolutely immaculate, the stadium’s looking fantastic. Again, you just hope they take that opportunity to go out there and impress.”
Tickets for Wednesday’s clash are available to all supporters for just a fiver, while Under-13s go free. With afforable prices, McGregor hopes to see a large number of Hibees in the ground to support the youngsters in European competition.
“It would be amazing. I know what it’s like personally to go out there with a big crowd supporting you and it does generate a wee bit extra motivation.
“The more bodies we can get in the doors supporting the lads, that would be excellent.
“We’ve been given this opportunity to play at Easter Road. It could have quite easily been played somewhere else. But the powers that be have allowed us to play on a magnificent pitch.
“So we must go out there and actually show that we’re a good footballing team, which I know we are.”
