Hearts players understand the Edinburgh club's expectations, says Ian Cathro

Ian Cathro's side lost to Partick Thistle on Saturday

Hearts head coach Ian Cathro insists his players have a full understanding of the size and magnitude of the club they represent.

Several of Cathro's recent signings are from various countries abroad, leading to some questioning their appreciation of the standards fans expect.

"This is tens of thousands of people's Real Madrid," said Cathro.

"Everybody understands clearly the size, the importance, how much love and passion there is for this club."

Hearts have gone four games without a win since beating Motherwell 3-0 in the Premiership at the start of February.

Within the last week, the Tynecastle side have lost a Scottish Cup replay to Edinburgh rivals Hibernian and went down 2-0 away to Partick Thistle in the league.

Cathro is still sure he can steer Hearts back on the right course and explained how another figure he respects in the game has also reminded him of his abilities in recent days.

"I took a phone call, someone calling me, and it was quite sharp," said Cathro.

Hearts players were left defjected by Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Partick Thistle

"It was just 'you know, trust yourself and be you'. It was as simple as that.

"You have to be you and things have to be natural.

"What we have allowed to happen through poor performances and poor results is people to question things about us."

Critics of the performances by his players and Cathro himself have come from some former Hearts players.

"That's what hurts the most - when people are allowed to ask those questions of us - 'do we know what this club means? Is everyone understanding of the importance of what it means to be a Hearts player?'," he added.

"We're hurt because we've allowed that to be the case because we've not delivered. The only way that's resolved is on the football pitch.

"One of the things that drives me most is being responsible for how these tens of thousands of people feels about the football club that they love.

"You can't switch that off. I want that responsibility and I want that stress and pressure of being the one who is to blame when things are difficult."