Neilson: Grab the chance to become club legends

ROBBIE NEILSON has urged his Hearts players to join the legends of the past by securing Scottish Cup glory at Hampden this afternoon. The Tynecastle side finished third in the Premiership — guaranteeing European groupstage football next term — but Neilson now wants to transform a good season into an unforgettable one. Only four Hearts teams have won the Scottish Cup in the last 66 years and he knows what it would mean for the class of 2022 to overcome Rangers at the national stadium. ‘It’s not just about winning the cup, it’s the prestige that comes with that,’ argued Neilson. ‘There have been numerous Hearts teams over the years that have had good seasons, finished with European football, got to cup finals — but there have been very few that have actually gone on and taken that final step and won the cup. ‘This group have got an opportunity to do it. We have to make sure we’re prepared and hopefully we do that as well. They understand that if they do that it becomes a massive thing.’ Neilson won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 2006 — scoring in the penalty shoot-out win over Gretna — and now has the chance to lift the silverware as manager. ‘It would be great but my job at the moment is to try and make sure the players are ready for it,’ he added. ‘We have to make sure they know what they’re doing. We’ll then decide on the team, the tactics and how we’re going to do that. After that, what will be will be.’ Hearts defeated Hibs in a tense derby semi-final to give themselves a chance to go one better than the delayed 2019-2020 final, when they lost to Celtic on penalties. ‘Obviously there are going to be fans this time — last time it was quiet,’ said Neilson, reflecting on that Covid-impacted showpiece. ‘It’s a case of getting the players ready and trusting them to do what they need to do.’ Neilson will speak to John Souttar and club physios to decide whether the Ibrox-bound defender starts the game or is on the bench. After two months out with an ankle injury, the 25-year-old returned to action as a substitute in last weekend’s Premiership defeat to Rangers.