David Gray excited by opportunity for Hibernian to secure European football

David Gray has braced Hibernian for a defining week in their season as they bid to complete “a massive effort” to secure European main-phase football.

The Hibees, who finished third in the Premiership last term, host Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Conference League play-off tie on Thursday, with the second leg in the Polish capital seven days later.

Having lost agonisingly in extra-time to Midtjylland in the Europa League before parachuting into the Conference League qualifiers, where they overcame Partizan Belgrade, Gray is determined to ensure his buoyant side do not fall at the final hurdle in their quest to secure European football.

“From the first day back in pre-season, we knew it was going to be massive effort, but the challenge to the players right on day one was, can we qualify for group-stage football, which has never been done before at the club,” Gray said.

“The challenge we’ve had, the tests we’ve had, the games we’ve came through, has been fantastic. This is the last one, and it doesn’t get any easier.

“If anything it gets tougher, just because you’re getting a little bit closer and what that means, and dealing with the expectation and the noise around about it. But it’s certainly a very exciting time to be a Hibs player and fan, and everybody connected with the club at the minute.”

Gray views the Legia tie as one of the biggest he has been involved in since becoming Hibs’ boss last summer.

“Yes, I think so. With what’s at stake, the opportunity to be playing in Europe right up to Christmas, the potential fixtures we might get,” he said.

“We’ve already had two sell-outs, soon to be three sell-outs tomorrow at Easter Road. To play in that environment, to coach in that environment myself, testing myself against top coaches, it’s where we want to be at this football club.

“We say all the time it’s all geared up and ready to go and do that. The bit that’s been missing for the last few years, for a variety of reasons, has been performances and consistency.

“But right now they’re delivering a really high performance level. We’ve got a really strong group that are in a really good place at the minute.”

Gray is wary of the fact Legia, who slipped into the Conference League after losing a Europa League qualifier 5-3 on aggregate to Cypriot side Larnaca, reached the quarter-finals of the competition last term before losing to eventual winners Chelsea.

However, the manager – who has everyone available except injured captain Joe Newell – is delighted that Hibs have no domestic game this weekend after taking advantage of the SPFL’s new policy of allowing clubs competing in Europe the chance to postpone their league fixture in between the two legs of the play-off round.

“I think that’s a real positive step for Scottish football to be able to postpone the match because Legia are the same,” said Gray. “It’s natural in countries abroad to do that, so I think it gives us a real opportunity over the two legs.

“No distractions, nothing in between where you can pick up knocks or injuries. I think it really focuses you on that one fixture over the two legs to give yourself the best possible opportunity.”