HEARTS legend Gilles Rousset has told the current crop of players it will be "one of the best weekends of their lives" if they can bring the Tennent's Scottish Cup back to Tynecastle.

Eight years after lifting the trophy with the Jambos the amiable Frenchman still can't walk down the street in Edinburgh without being asked to pose for a photograph or sign an autograph.

But it's the reaction that he and his team-mates got in the immediate aftermath of their 2-1 win over Rangers and the celebrations at the victory parade that stand out for him.

And he insisted that, despite the fact that several of the players plying their trade in Gorgie have won honours with other clubs, the ovation they will be given by "the best supporters in the world" will stun them.

"I really hope that the Hearts players win the trophy just so they can experience what we did. It was just unbelievable - I can't find the words to describe it properly," he said. "I think they (the current squad) will get the same reception that we did if they can win the cup. The day after on the bus on the way to Tynecastle was just fantastic. Without doubt the best feeling of my career and if you haven't experienced that it's hard to understand.

"We were absolutely flying. I think there was almost 250,000 people there - the best supporters in the world - and it is something that I will never forget.

"I still can't walk down Princes Street without being recognised and it's great that I seem to have this love affair with the fans.

"I will never forget Hearts and Scotland. I think they love me as much as I love them and I'll always care about the club."

Rousset won't be at Hampden cheering the Jambos on as Lyon, where he is now a goalkeeping coach, play their final game of the season against Le Mans the same day.

However he stressed that his first thought as soon as their game ends will be to find out how the Gorgie club fared.

"We will be having a party because we won the league and this is the last game," he said.

"The only thing that will make that better for me is if Hearts can win too and there is a friend who is going to tell me the score at the end.

"Hopefully it will be a good night for Jambos everywhere."

Taken from the Scotsman