Hearts Goalkeeper Reus to Leverage Knowledge of Hibs Manager Reedijk in Derby Clash

Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus is preparing to face his former coach, Marink Reedijk, in the upcoming Edinburgh derby semi-final, hoping to leverage his intimate knowledge of the Hibs manager's tactical approach.

Reedijk, just over a month into his tenure at Hibernian, has had an inauspicious start, losing his first three games before securing a draw in his most recent outing. The 34-year-old Dutchman arrived at Hibs with a reputation for high-octane attacking football, having guided Beveren to promotion in Belgium. However, questions have been raised about his ability to translate this style to the Scottish Premiership.

Despite Reedijk's struggles, Reus, who played under him for two seasons at Belgian club Beveren, vouches for his former manager's capabilities. "For me, he's a good manager. His gameplan is really clear," Reus stated. "He's very adaptable. He's a young coach. I know he will have some tricks up his sleeve."

Reus highlighted Reedijk's directness and clear communication. "He's really straight, so if he has a plan, he will go to implement his plan as well as he can. Off the pitch he's a really, really nice guy, really warm. But, yeah, as soon as you're on the pitch with him, you know exactly what you have to do for him. He makes it very clear."

Reus acknowledged the unique situation of facing a former coach in such a high-stakes match. "We are very kind to each other, but I think on Sunday we will forget about it for 90 minutes. After that, we can shake hands again." He added that he plans to share his insights with the Hearts coaching staff. "I will have a meeting with our coach to tell him how he will play, probably!"

Hibernian's recent form has been a cause for concern, with their defeat to Celtic last weekend seeing Grant Hanley playing up front in a desperate late tactic. The club remains mired in relegation trouble, and Reedijk is under pressure to secure a significant result.

Hearts enter the semi-final on the back of a 2-2 draw against Rangers, a match where they were considered the superior side for large periods. However, the team is contending with an injury crisis, with eight first-team regulars currently sidelined. "It is devastating when you see so many injuries," Reus noted. "But we will play with the players we have and give 100 per cent for sure."

Reaching the Premier Sports Cup final would represent a significant achievement for Hearts, who have not won the competition in a considerable time. "I don't know the numbers off the top of my head, but the last time the club won this competition was quite some time ago, so it's massive," Reus said. He also expressed the added satisfaction of winning against local rivals Hibernian. "It is another massive game and we really want to bounce back from the disappointment of losing the late goal against Rangers in midweek."