Hibs UEFA Conference League journey begins with a trip to Kosovo for the Second Qualifying Round match against KF Malisheva this afternoon Thursday 23 July 20206.
And head coach David Gray is under no illusions about the challenge that awaits against Thomas Brdarić’s side.
Speaking ahead of the game Gray was asked about team news, the positivity in the camp, what he’s expecting from KF Malisheva, creating history, and much more.
“I’ve watched both legs of the last round and a few of the pre-season things that [KF Malisheva] have done,” Gray said.
“You try to get as much footage as you can possibly get and try and do as much due diligence as you can, and having watched the last leg, they thoroughly deserved to go through over the course of the two games.
“They’re very aggressive, very intense, and we can expect that again tomorrow.
“We need to be ready for that. I think it’ll be a real tough test for us coming away from home to experience a different style of football, but it’s one the players are ready for.
“We’ve gone over it and shown the players what we expect and what our game plan is moving forward, and I think we’re all ready for what we’re going to face and are just looking forward to the game now.
“If anybody thinks for one second that any game of football is going to be easy, you’re going in with the wrong mentality.
“They’re a team that are going to fight for absolutely every inch in the game, and we need to be ready for that, the same as you are for every game.
“I do enjoy these different sorts of challenges and, for different reasons, as you say, different styles, different ways of playing, and different coaches that do different things.
“We’ve got 12 teams in the Scottish Premiership, and you do become quite accustomed, especially when you get to round four and you know the players inside out.
“My knowledge of Eastern European football is not as good as the Scottish Premiership is, so we have to do a lot of homework in the background for that, and it’s just a different test, but it’s exactly what the players earned for what they delivered last season in terms of European football.
“These are brilliant away games for fans. I know they’ll be over in their numbers again tomorrow, which is fantastic, and it’s a reward for last season, but you need to then capitalise on that and go and show a real good account of yourself.
“I was very positive about the experience we had last year, and they were some of the best nights I’ve been involved in as a coach and just in football in general.
“Obviously winning at FK Partizan and winning [after 90 minutes] in Warsaw on the night were brilliant nights and brilliant occasions to be involved in, and even the home games and the atmosphere that comes with those.
“If we want nights like that again, there will be an opportunity, but we need to make sure everyone’s going into that game with the right attitude and the right frame of mind, and that only happens by taking care of business tomorrow and making sure that we put a real good performance in.
“For the new players, it’s why you want to come to the Football Club: to go and challenge yourself, the opportunity to go and play on a big stage of European football. It’s an exciting time, and it’s one that the players should be, as I know they are, now looking forward to.
“I constantly challenge the group about trying to create history and be the first Hibs team to get into the group stages, and I think we can.
“Clearly, we will take one game at a time. We’ve got a difficult test just now, but if we can put together two real complete performances, we know we’re a very good side.
“I’m delighted with where we are, and I know we’ll get stronger as the games go on, but it’s about making sure that you go into this game knowing that it’s going to be a tough test and you need to be at your very best.
“If there’s any sort of complacency at all, you will certainly be punished at this level. The players will know that.
“They’ll be ready for that, and it’s certainly one game at a time, one step at a time, but the aim ultimately is, can we go and achieve that?”
