Claudio Braga: Hearts don’t need the pressure of thinking about the title

Hearts forward Claudio Braga insists the league leaders aren’t concerning themselves with a potential title challenge as they keep their feet on the ground and take one game at a time.

The Portuguese star, who has quickly secured his place as a fan’s favourite at Tynecastle with 11 goals in 22 games this season, is not looking any further than their game against Rangers this weekend.

Hearts are six points ahead of Celtic, having played a game more, and nine ahead of Saturday’s visitors, who also have a game in hand.

Braga has conceded that a possible Jambos title win will be discussed outside the Gorgie dressing room.

But he says the players will take a more relaxed approach as they focus on continuing their good form.

Derek McInnes’ side have just one defeat in 90 minutes all season, and go into the weekend of recent back-to-back wins over Celtic and Falkirk.

Braga said: “Outside of the club, definitely, of course, people talk and family talk, everybody.

“But as a group I think what we need to do, the best scenario for us, is just to keep our feet on the ground.

“Still so many games, and we’re going to have bumps in the road, hopefully not that many, but just keep our feet on the ground and try to enjoy the moment that we are in, try to be happy for being in the position that we are in, enjoy it, and do not feel the pressure of that.

“We’re not thinking about the title. Not thinking about that because we don’t need to. We don’t need to take that pressure on.

“It’s a good game against a good team (Rangers), worth the same points as the other games.

“We’re playing at home and we’re going to do everything to win the game.”

Braga concedes that his expectations may have been exceeded since his move to Edinburgh and “I thank God for that”.

He said: “Expectations when I came was, to be honest, to do as best as we could.

“I think that’s sort of what we’re trying to do now and, luckily, we’re getting results and getting points from that.

“I was not thinking about that when I came, to be honest, but thinking about trying to go as far as possible, and hopefully we can just keep going, with the momentum that we have right now.”