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See the full story · 1 sourcesBraga: 'Every player has ambitions
Hearts striker Claudio Braga has opened up on his future, insisting "every player has ambitions". <p>The Portuguese forward has attracted attention after a standout first season at Tynecastle, which saw him named PFA Scotland Player of the Year.</p><p>But the 26-year-old is fully focused on the season ahead with the Jambos.</p><widget id="7"></widget><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/hearts-scores-fixtures">Hearts fixtures: Vrancken's side begin Premiership season at Aberdeen</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/36621/13567131/scottish-premiership-2026-27-after-celtics-final-day-triumph-over-hearts-how-can-the-new-season-top-the-best-in-decades">Can the new Scottish Premiership season top the best campaign in decades?</a></strong></li><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/36621/13567942/scottish-premiership-2026-27-new-season-a-z-guide-ahead-of-opening-weekend-live-across-sky-sports"><strong>Scottish Premiership A-Z for the new season</strong></a></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11781/13551122/scottish-premiership-2026-27-fixtures-dates-schedule-every-match-across-opening-weekend-live-on-sky-sports">Scottish Premiership: Every match across opening weekend live on Sky Sports</a></strong></li></ul><p>"I feel like it's something that as a professional you can't be distracted with. I need to try my best to not hear worries around me and everything," Braga told <em>Sky Sports News</em> ahead of Hearts' season opener against Aberdeen.</p><p>"Everything else is in talks with my agents and everything.</p><p>"I don't really want to be in that unless something is really on the table.</p><p>"Of course, every player has ambitions and everything, but I have a contract with Heart of Midlothian and I would only go if it's something good for me and for the club."</p> <widget id="5"></widget><p>Hearts lost out on an historic Premiership title last season with an agonising final-day defeat at Celtic Park</p><p>Braga is determined to avoid a repeat.</p><p>"It feels that the hunger is a little bit more now because you lost that title so close to the end, so you don't want to have that feeling again," he added.</p><p>"Of course it's going to be difficult, nobody says it's going to be easy and it's definitely the odds are maybe not on us or everything else.</p><p>"A lot of changes, a lot of new coaches, new players, new style of play. I think it's going to take a while to get it there, but once we get there, I think we'll be good."</p><h3>Vrancken: Put your energy into what has to come</h3><p>New Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has told the players to forget last season's title miss and focus on the next challenge.</p><p>The Belgian took charge last month following Derek McInnes' move to Rangers.</p> <widget id="9"></widget><p>"In sport, it's always looking forward and to put your energy into what has to come," he told <em>Sky Sports News.</em></p><p>"I was in this position a few years ago and missed the title in two minutes. You have to get over the emotions of what you missed and then it goes forward again."</p><p>Hearts are away to Aberdeen in their season opener on Saturday, <em>live on Sky Sports</em>, aiming to secure their first win at Pittodrie since 2016.</p><p>"You have to always be confident and I think we have a good chance," the 47-year-old added.</p><p>"I think when we show the quality that we have and we do it all together, then we have for sure a chance to do something there and we have to break this tradition.</p><p>"We did our analysis. I saw myself some of their games in the preparation of last year so we know what's coming.</p><p>"We know it's not an easy game of course and not an easy away game so we have to be fully prepared."</p><p>A number of influential players have left Tynecastle Park this summer, including captain Lawrence Shankland and midfielder Cammy Devlin, who also chose to make the switch to Rangers.</p> <widget id="8"></widget><p>Ten new players have joined the club, while Stuart Findlay and Rogers Mato have made their loan moves permanent.</p><p>On transfers, the Belgian boss added: "I put my energy in the players who are here at the moment.</p><p>"I think it's my job to put my energy in this and the things that I can manage.</p><p>"What's coming or what's going out, you'll never know in a window.</p><p>"It's also part of football so I don't put my energy in this."</p>