‘The opportunity to play in a cup final against the guys who have just let you go is a big motivation’
ROBBIE NEILSON: Hearts manager on his veteran goalkeeper and former teammate Craig Gordon ahead of the Scottish Cup final
Confidence within the Hearts camp is more like quiet assurance than brash arrogance. You would expect nothing more before a Scottish Cup final against Celtic.
The Edinburgh club are Championship underdogs against a Premiership team chasing a historic quadruple treble. Few give them an earthly hope of causing an upset on Sunday, yet there is detectable belief when you walk into Riccarton.
It is rightly under stated, as manager Robbie Neilson knows the perils of presumptuousness before any game let alone a cup final.
He won’t pay much attention to ructions and protests around Parkhead. His conviction stems from the lieutenants he will send out on to the field at Hampden Park.
Neilson won the Scottish Cup with Hearts 14 years ago alongside Craig Gordon and Christophe Berra. Now, those two are bedrocks of a team he is gradually rebuilding. He has intrinsic knowledge of their capabilities and how to utilise them.
Gordon and B err a are 37 and 35 respectively and know the territory well, as do others such as captain Steven Naismith and the Northern Ireland internationalists Liam Boyce and Michael Smith.
If Hearts are to pull off what would bea monument al shock and leave Celtic manager Neil Lennon facing the sack, those experienced protagonists will be key.
Berra is used to high-octane occasions as a former Scotland internationalist and English Premier League defender.
Behind him, goal keeper Gordon remains a member of the Scotland squad, enjoyed umpteen Champions League nights with Celtic and played a major part in their previous three trebles. Neilson would dearly love to be out there with them forming part of the Hearts defence at Hampden. Placing his faith in them as manager is the next best thing.
“I have known Christophe for along time. He’s a very good player,” explained Neilson. “If you play Christophe the way we’re playing him just now, where he is physical, he is strong, he wins his headers, he is organised, we make it simple for him.
“Pass the ball to the full-back and to the midfield. We don’t ask too much of him on that side of it. He shows his qualities and his qualities for me are that he is a leader.”
One quality Neilson doesn’t mention when discussing Berra is resilience. Actions speak loud er than words in that department.
After being ostracised and loaned out to Dundee in January by previous Hearts manager Daniel Stendel, Berra’s recovery has been admirable.
“I wasn’t here last year but I think he got pushed aside and it hurt him a bit,” said Neilson. “He came back in really good condition. He had a wee injury at the start of pre-season but he has managed to get back in the team and I couldn’t be more happy for him.”
Gordon’ s capture from Sunday’ s opponents during the summer was a genuine coup. Celtic’ sown troubles in that position this season – they have used three different keepers so far – highlight the wisdom, or lack of it, in allowing him to leave as a free agent. “It’s good for him. He made a big decision to leave Celtic and come to ourselves in the Championship,” said Neilson. ““The opportunity to play in a cup final against the guys who have just let you go is a big motivation for him.”