If Hibs want to play mind games they can give me a call, says Hearts boss Paulo Sergio

Craig Swan

PAULO SERGIO last night told Hibs to give him a ring if they want to start mind games ahead of tomorrow’s Scottish Cup Final showdown.

The Hearts gaffer was in relaxed mood in the countdown to the Hampden derby but it did not stop him being brassed off by messages coming out of Easter Road.

Midfielder Lewis Stevenson said this week the pressure was all on Hearts due to their excellent record in recent capital showdowns.

With Hibs not having won the trophy for 110 years and Hearts not having lost a derby for three years, Stevenson reckons the Jambos have it all to lose.

But Sergio said: “If you believe that losing puts the pressure on to the other team that wins more times then okay, you keep losing.

“Keep losing and put the pressure on to us.

“If someone wants to make mind games with me, they have to call me.

“Gary Locke was saying to me things are being said every single day but you can tell them I can give my phone number and they can give me a call.

“I’m too focused on the game and my job to be thinking of that.”

Sergio scrapped the annual pre-match meeting of the managers with the trophy, insisting he has no interest in formalities during this crucial build-up period.

He added: “It’s not the way I like to do things.

“It’s nothing against Pat Fenlon. I understand we have to take photos, do interviews and things.

“But I don’t want to be with the cup or taking photos with it if I haven’t won it. I have no right.

“I’m hoping that on Saturday night I’ll touch the c up and I will be sleeping with it but I don’t like the sideshows, I just like to do my work. Pat and I will meet on Saturday.”

Hibs manager Fenlon opted to take his team out of the city to escape the mayhem and they spent four days at Portmarnock’s plush hotel resort in Ireland.

But Sergio has grafted this week in normal surroundings in his Hampden preparation and he added: “I don’t like to change the routines of my team.

“I have them close and I am doing my job, why do I have to go to another country?”

Despite his snipe back at Stevenson, Sergio insists he has nothing but respect for Hibs.

He said: “They signed many players in January and signed good players. I respect Pat and the club.

“I’ve gone to see games at Easter Road and people respect me.

“We should live a rivalry in the city but with respect and the fans should be the same.

“That is the way we should live football and keep alive this rivalry.

“Respect should always be first over everything else in our relationships.”

Taken from the Daily Record