CHRIS: WE JUST GET BERRA BY THE MINUTE

CHRISTOPHE BERRA remembers when Hearts were happy just to challenge for a place in the UEFA Cup - but now they're on the brink of the Champions League and he reckons they've earned the respect that once was reserved only for the Old Firm.

Scotland Under-21 defender Berra swears Vladimir Romanov has been a shot in the arm for a club where once wages were slashed in a bid to pay the bills.

And he admits Hearts have taken a leaf out of the Old Firm's book and adopted a siege mentality as they shape up for their date with destiny against Aberdeen at Tynecastle tonight.

Berra said: "When I first came to Hearts we were just happy to qualify for the UEFA Cup by finishing third and beating the Old Firm occasionally.

"Now we are looking to beat the Old Firm all the time.

"A lot of clubs treat Hearts like one of the Old Firm and they give us the utmost respect and any mistakes we make they come down on us like a ton of bricks.

"Celtic and Rangers have been coping with that kind of pressure for years and now it's turn to try to handle it.

"Hearts are being given huge respect and we are now a massive scalp for teams.

"Our main aim this season was to qualify for the UEFA Cup but now we know that if we beat Aberdeen we will qualify for the Champions League.

"That is testament to how far this Hearts side have come in just eight months under Mr Romanov.

"This club is going onwards and upwards and hopefully next season we will challenge Celtic and Rangers again for the SPL title."

Berra admits he has profited from the absence from the team of contract rebel Andy Webster in recent weeks.

Webster's refusal to sign a new deal led to him being axed from the squad and he has since suffered an Achilles injury that could yet rule him out of the Scottish Cup Final against Gretna.

But Berra himself became the latest victim of Hearts' rotation system when he was dropped against Celtic and despite having made the first team breakthrough this term he insists he is taking nothing for granted.

He said: "Andy Webster's misfortune has been my fortune I guess but I was disappointed not to start against Celtic on Sunday.

"I'd played against Celtic, Kilmarnock and Hibs and I'd say they were my best games. I was disappointed to be dropped or rested for the Celtic game but no one explained that decision to me.

"Whether it was tactical or part of the rotation system I just have to accept it but I'm confident in my own ability to hold down a place in the first team. Rotation has been used at bigger clubs than Hearts and it has worked for them so I just have to show my professionalism at this time."

Taken from the Daily Record