Ivanauskas hails role of Burley and Rix in run to the final

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS will tell his Hearts players to become "heroes for life" on Saturday by beating Gretna in the Scottish Cup final.

The Tynecastle side are overwhelming favourites to dismiss their Second Division opponents and secure their first trophy for eight years at Hampden Park.

Ivanauskas, Hearts' interim head coach, has already guided the club into the qualifying rounds of the Champions League after just eight games in charge, now he wants to see his squad earn the status of outright Hearts legends. "If we win the cup, the players will be heroes for life," said Ivanauskas.

"Their names will forever be linked with Hearts' history whether they stay or don't stay. I think we need this one.

"This is the final, so experience is very important. A lot of the players who have played in cup finals before will be needed simply because they have that experience."

Modesty will prevent the Lithuanian from claiming any personal glory should Hearts find themselves taking the Scottish Cup for a lap of honour around the national stadium this weekend.

Instead, he prefers to emphasise the contributions of his predecessors to one of the most dramatic campaigns in Hearts' history.

"I don't consider myself a hero," he said. "I am happy here and I will be delighted to win the cup, but only a small per cent of this success will be down to my work.

"I have helped, but George Burley and Graham Rix have helped a lot, so I think it will be the three managers who will be legends if we win the cup."

One man who will be missing from Saturday's line-up is Jose Goncalves as the Portuguese defender has lost his battle to make the cup final after failing to recover from a torn hamstring he sustained in the win over Kilmarnock last month.

Without any other serious injury concerns, the aim of Ivanauskas and his assistant John McGlynn between now and Saturday's kick-off is to maintain the focus of the players whilst calming a few nerves.

"Last week we had the culmination to our fantastic season. There was a lot of pressure and we suffered it and have managed to take second place in the championship.

"I have got a good vibe from the players these past few days in training and I think they are a little more relaxed. They must stay calm. I think some of the younger players are maybe a little nervous but I sensed more tension before the Aberdeen game and before the Celtic game than I have done this week.

"It is important that they are focused, everybody in Edinburgh is waiting for this game as are all the people across Scotland.

"I have told the players to stay calm and enjoy this week. We are delighted to be in this situation."

Hearts are headline news across the Continent at present since gaining their first entry into the Champions League against Aberdeen last week. More than most countries, Lithuania is paying particular attention to the events in Gorgie.

"Many people have called me from Lithuania, friends of mine, people I know in newspapers over there," said Ivanauskas. "This will be a big game in Lithuania and I know that many of the people there are coming over for the final.

"It will be a great day and I must make sure the team is prepared. We have information about Gretna, we have had them watched twice and I will be studying videos of them with the players today and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, defender Ibrahim Tall has been named in the Senegal squad to face South Korea in a friendly next month after impressing since making his long-awaited Hearts debut last month.

However English-based strikers Henri Camara, El Hadji Diouf, Pape Bouba Diop, Diomansy Kamara and Amdy Faye have all been omitted by the Teranga Lions.

Taken from the Scotsman