Are there already worrying signs for Vrancken's Hearts?

Former Hearts forward Ryan Stevenson was vociferous in his criticism after Hearts crashed out of the Champions League qualifiers following a 6-0 aggregate hammering from Sturm Graz.

Hearts, who just 73 days prior came within minutes of a historic title win at Celtic Park, have lost their talisman, central-midfield enforcer and manager this summer and now lack a connection between players and fans, according to Stevenson.

"Worrying", "freefall" and "rude awakening" were all bandied around in the immediate aftermath of the club's heaviest ever two-legged European defeat as new boss Wouter Vrankcen's tenure got off to a rocky start.

After the departures of Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin and Derek McInnes to Rangers, and a glut of other players leaving, the club have made 11 new additions and looked disjointed in both legs against their Austrian opponents.

"Hearts just look as if it's just a new squad flung in together, with the manager too, trying to find their way," Stevenson said.

"You don't get time in football, it's game after game after game.

"If you don't get results, we all know what Tynecastle is like. It can be electric, but can they deal with the stadium turning? Are they big enough characters to deal with that?

"If they don't play well, I would give it to mid-September, and it would not be nice."

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Real cause for concern or context key?

Despite conceding six goals across two legs, Hearts impressed going forward in spells but lacked a clinical touch in front of goal, failing to score from a combined expected goals value of 2.6.

With only a couple of competitive games under their belt, there was a sense of unease around Tynecastle, where many fans left well before the final whistle.

The defeat was Hearts' first at home in 15 months and supporters can be forgiven for expecting more from a side assembled with the aid of lauded recruitment tool Jamestown Analytics.

Regardless, it is still just two games into the season for a new-look team who will be expecting to compete for domestic honours and still have a chance at Europa League or Conference League football.

"It's early days, but if you look at that squad, you have to be a big character to go out when things aren't going well to demand the ball and drag the team forward," Stevenson added.

"How long does the manager get if they come under pressure? What do Jamestown do? Do they stick their heels in? And then it becomes ugly.

"It's like an absolute freefall, it's totally a new team. There isn't a connection between the team and the fans. Again, it's the first game, so I'm being totally critical, but the signs for me just now are worrying."

With no competitive warm-ups before their Champions League journey began, Vrancken insists his players weren't ready.

However, in the first leg, nine of the starters were at the club last season. And in Tuesday night's second leg, eight starting players remained from last season.

They looked like strangers at times, particularly in the final third and when high balls were launched into their box.

"Physically, yes," Vrancken said when asked if these games came too soon.

"When you see both games again, what we did with the ball was really good until the moment that you physically cannot bring it any more and that made it difficult.

"I hope everybody starts scoring. It doesn't matter who, as long as the goals come.

"It comes together with physical preparation too, then you make the better decisions, and in the final moments you're there to finish it. I cannot blame the players in intentions and how they did it at all.

"It's not about quality. When you play against Sturm Graz who are experienced in Europe, and you play like that in the first half in both games, then it's not about lacking quality, it's more about we have to make some steps physically."

'We can't wait to start getting results'

Hearts' Scottish Premiership duties start on Saturday evening with a tricky trip to Aberdeen, where they have a dismal record, losing 10 of their past 11 league visits.

Their title bid last year garnered worldwide acclaim, but building on that benchmark is a tough ask.

Setting the tone for the season ahead, particularly after such a lacklustre start, is vital, with a performance now just as important as the result.