Fyssas hails Gretna's cup final heroes

HEARTS star Takis Fyssas has told Gretna they can be "proud" of their efforts in Saturday's Tennent's Scottish Cup final but insisted his side deserved to win.

The Greek internationalist has been a stand-out performer for the Capital club this season and turned in another assured display again at Hampden.

The Euro 2004 winner was next up for Hearts to take a penalty in the dramatic shoot-out but Gavin Skelton's miss ensured he didn't have to.

The former Benfica star admitted he had been impressed by their lower league opponents on the day but felt the Jambos did just enough to merit their victory.

"Gretna played very well and I think they can be proud because nobody expected the game to be so close," said Fyssas, 33 next month.

"I had been telling my team-mates all week that it could be difficult. I knew this from being the underdog myself. The smaller team doesn't have stress.

"If you are the favourites then all the time you are telling yourself you have to win. If they lose but play well then they are still happy as you saw on Saturday.

"They tried their best and made it difficult so I have to congratulate them.

"But, over the game, I thought that we deserved to win the cup and I'm very happy that we did that."

Fyssas, meanwhile, has revealed that he would love to end his career in Gorgie.

The left back has achieved cult status with the Hearts support since signing at the start of this season and, although he has another year to run on his deal, he's admitted that he would like to extend that.

"I'm not afraid to say that I'd like to stay at Hearts longer," he said.

"I have some proposals that my agent has told me but for me this is all 'blah blah blah'

"I want to speak with Mr Romanov and if he wants me to stay then I will.

"I won a cup in Portugal with Benfica as well but I have to say that I feel more at home with Hearts in Scotland.

"In Portugal, everything was okay but here I feel the guys are more friendly and I fit in more here. I am very happy.

"We have had a brilliant season, the best season ever in the history of Hearts, so why would I want to leave?"

Taken from the Scotsman