RANGERS flop Emerson insists he won't be on a Scottish football revenge mission when he tackles Hearts on Wednesday.

The Brazilian midfielder endured a miserable 15 months at Ibrox after joining from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2003.

But he has relaunched his career in Greece, first starring for Xanthi and now with AEK Athens.

Now in a twist of fate, the 34-year-old will return to Scotland with the Greeks taking on the Jambos in the final Champions League qualifier.

Ironically Emo's best displays in Light Blue came in a 4-0 away win to Hearts and in Athens when he scored in a 1-1 draw in the Champions League against Panathanikos.

As he prepared for the crucial visit to Murrayfield, Emerson said: "I don't see the Hearts match as a personal revenge mission - I always try my best.

"At Rangers I hoped for more chances to play but still consider it to have been a good adventure.

"People in Greece are asking me about Scottish football but this Hearts team is totally different from my time at Rangers.

"With the money they have spent they are a dangerous rival to any club.

"I believe we are the favourites but have told my team-mates not to treat Hearts or Scottish football lightly.

"We need the maximum concentration in both legs and must treat our opponents as if they are Real Madrid or Barcelona."

Emerson knows the key to his club progressing to the group stages is scoring in Wednesday's away leg.

He said: "I have the video of Hearts' first match against Siroki Brijeg and they had plenty of chances to score so our defensive work will be crucial.

"But as with all away games in Europe, if we can score then that could make all the difference. If we can grab a goal at Murrayfield we will be happy.

"To play Champions League football is a dream and we are not considering it an option to fail.

"I know the coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer from my time in Spain but he doesn't give places in the team to his friends.

"I have to show on the training field what I can do.

"I have not arrived at AEK Athens like a star who is on his holidays.

"During the pre-season we have looked good and must show that form in the games with Hearts.

"We are not worried about the atmosphere in Scotland.

"In Athens the atmosphere is sensational and it's always difficult for visiting teams although I don't like the term 'hell' that is often used."

Taken from the Sunday Mail