TAPE OF 98 FINAL MEANS WE WILL WIN IT SAYS VALDAS IVANAUSKAS

VALDAS IVANAUSKAS hopes a video lesson from the Class of '98 can help inspire Hearts to glory today.

The coach laid on a screening of the Tynecastle side's last Scottish Cup triumph - under Jim Jefferies eight years ago - for his players earlier this week.

His aim in showing them the 2-1 win over Rangers was to highlight the significance of the competition, particularly for the benefit of his foreign stars.

Seven non-Scots are almost certain to feature in Hearts' starting line-up against Gretna and Ivanauskas was keen to hammer home the importance of today's end-of-season showpiece.

Having managed and played in Austria, Germany and Russia as well as his native Lithuania, Ivanauskas is well aware that domestic cup competitions are often regarded as nothing more than a sideshow to league championships.

He showed his team the same video before Hearts' 4-0 semi-final mauling of Hibs and Ivanauskas is hoping for a similar response against the Second Division outfit.

He said: "It's a long time since Hearts won something but we watched a video of the 1998 Final earlier this week. We have a lot of players from other countries and wanted to show them how important this game is.

"It was a good video and I think the players now realise what the Scottish Cup Final means. We also showed it to thembeforethesemi-finalagainstHibs.

"In England and Scotland the Cup is very important but in other countries it does not carry the same significance."

Gretna boss Rowan Alexander insists all the pressure is on overwhelming favourites Hearts today.

But Ivanauskas says clinching second spot in the league and a place in the qualifying rounds of next season's Champions League removed a massive burden from his side ahead of today's clash.

He said: "Finishing second has taken a lot of pressure away from us.

"The game against Aberdeen when we made sure of that was crucial for the players and the club and psychologically very important.

"If we hadn't clinched the Champions League place it would have been very difficult for the players and for me. We worked hard for nine months and were in the top two all season.

"If we had lost second place and gone into the UEFA Cup it would not have been good."

Finishing behind Celtic in the SPL was a terrific achievement for Hearts but so far their tremendous efforts this term haven't produced silverware.

Ivanauskas knows his players may never get a better opportunity to land some than this afternoon.

He said: "Second place and a possible place in the Champions League is good but it is the future. In the Cup Final we have a realistic chance to hold a trophy in our hands and win medals.

"It is a big day for the club, a special day for everybody, particularly the supporters. In the semi-final the fans were magnificent.

"They were unbelievable and we want to win the Cup for them."

Three of Hearts' four victories in the Cup were against teams from the top six of the SPL.

Aberdeen, Hibs and Kilmarnock were all comfortably despatched - yet Hearts needed all of goalkeeper Craig Gordon's brilliance to scrape past Second Division Partick Thistle 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

Ivanauskas reckons their experience against Dick Campbell's team will make sure his players aren't complacent against Gretna He said: "We have watched them two or three times, including their semifinal, and we know a lot about them.

"They won their league easily with a big points difference so we have to respect their players, manager and chairman.

"But we have our style and we won't change it against Gretna. The tie against Partick Thistle was good preparation for us but I think this will be a totally different game."

A best-priced 4-9 with Ladbrokes, Hearts look banker bet material to finish a dramatic season on a high.

Less of an attractive proposition for punters is whether Ivanauskas will still be in charge at Tynecastle next season.

Ivanauskas has every reason to be wary, having led Kaunas to cup success last season only to be sacked by Vladimir Romanov.

Ivanauskas said: "I'd like the job but this is the last day and the last game of the season. Afterwards it is at the discretion of Mr Romanov.

"If he wants me to stay then I will but if he doesn't, I will go. It is no problem. I know which day we are starting pre-season training, but who will be the manager I don't know. I am ready for the job but I also know Mr Romanov.

Taken from the Daily Record