I'VE BEEN IN 3 FINALS AND UNDERDOG WON THEM ALL ..I DON'T WANT REPEAT SAYS TAKIS FYSSAS

TAKIS FYSSAS will become the first Greek player to win three cup finals in different countries if Hearts beat Gretna but he knows better than anyone the danger of the underdog.

In EVERY major final the defender has played there's been a shock result with the smaller club coming out on top.

Fyssas was part of the Panionios side who stunned his homeland in 1997 by beating Panathinaikos in the Greek Cup Final.

Then in 2004 Takis scored what he calls the "greatest goal of my career" as unfancied Benfica beat Jose Mourinho's Porto 2-1 in extra-time.

He capped that summer by being an integral part of the Greece side who achieved one of the biggest shocks EVER by winning the European Championships in Portugal.

And last year Fyssas LOST the Portuguese Cup Final when Benfica were upset by lowly Vitoria Setubal.

So the 32-year-old knows all about cup shocks and has warned his Hearts team-mates to be wary of Rowan Alexander's Gretna.

Fyssas has told every player not to get complacent and to forget Wednesday's sensational Champions League qualification.

He said: "Against Setubal last year we were too busy still celebrating because we had won the league the week before.

"So I know what it's like for the small club to shock everyone. It was the same with Benfica against Porto - everyone expected them to win but we did.

"That was a special moment because we hadn't won the cup in eight years.

"That's why I have to stress we need to be focused against Gretna.

"We know they are a smaller club than Hearts but it will be a tough game. We are favourites and have to show this. We must learn from Benfica.

"I keep telling the other players about this. You never stop learning in football.

"If I win the Scottish Cup I will be the only Greek player to have won three cups in three different countries and that's another incentive for me.

"I didn't realise that until a Greek journalist called to tell me.

"Hearts fans are happy now and waiting for us to take the cup. I am sure we will win if we play as we can.

"There is a different mentality here from the players - I don't need to speak too much about how to approach this game. The character of the Scottish guys is good and their feet are on the ground."

Fyssas is one of the top players in Scotland with a wealth of European experience. He could easily have done a terrific job for either of the Old Firm.

But the Greek is happy in Edinburgh and plans to hang around beyond the year he has left on his current deal.

Despite the success he's had Takis is adamant this Saturday's showpiece at Hampden means everything to him.

He said: "I won Euro 2004 with Greece which was a fantastic moment.

"But last Wednesday was amazing for me - to reach the Champions League with Hearts. It felt like the first time I won something again.

"You never stop trying to do your best and I still get as excited about a cup final as I did before my first at 23 for Panionios.

"I have great respect for Gretna. They have a good president who loves his team and they will be trying their hardest to beat us on Saturday but we're ready.

"I'm happy and proud to be here. I want to stay with Hearts for many years as I enjoy the mentality of Scottish football."

Fyssas admits Hearts' resurgence has raised the club's profile in his homeland.

Before he arrived in Scotland the only teams known in Greece were Rangers and Celtic but that's all changed.

He said: "Greek people didn't say good things about my move here.

"I was angry and told myself I had to prove them wrong. As soon as I arrived I knew it was the right move.

"We have a great stadium, a nice city, fantastic fans and a top youth academy. But I knew I had to play well to prove myself.

"Now newspapers in Greece are full of reports about Hearts and interviews with me. They want to come over and take pictures of the Greek flags in the crowd.

"I am proud because in Greece they now know all about us.

"They look at me and Rangers' Soto Kyrgiakos and are surprised it's Hearts who are second in the league and in the cup final.

"I didn't want to get too cocky with Soto in the run-in for second place - I just told him I genuinely believed we'd finish second and I've been proved right."

Taken from the Sunday Mail