HEARTS manager Robbie Neilson has insisted that the Tynecastle side have never been in better shape ahead of a Scottish Cup final as they will be for this season’s climactic encounter.

Neilson pointed to the return of key players ahead of their return to Hampden next month but, crucially, he also expects his squad to be petter prepared mentally for the Scottish Cup final given their previous visits to the stadium.

This will be Hearts’ third final in four years with Neilson confident that having been over the course before they will be better prepare to manage the expectations around the game.  

“Do we have a stronger squad than previous years? Yes we do,” he said.  “We will have the likes of John Souttar back, Michael Smith, plus others and hopefully Craig Halkett as well depending how he is. We could go in with a full squad other than Beni Baningime. 

“I think the boys get more comfortable with the environment and the build up to the big games the more you do it. The first time you do it, it takes loads of your energy. 

“I remember my first time as a player I was drained before I even kicked a ball. 

“The more experience they get they know how to keep that energy.”

I think it can take teams a few attempts to get that feeling of winning at Hampden. They come here and it can be difficult.  

“When you get to the final people line the streets, you have that pressure in the build up to it. 

“Sometimes that energy can hinder your performance. A lot of our players have come here a few times and for some of them it will be their third final, others their second. 

“Having that experience before can stand them in good stead for the final.”
Hearts lost to Celtic in the 2019 final and then lost to penalties in the 2020 final, with the game played in December because of Covid issues. That game finished 3-3 after Hearts had dragged themselves back into the game from being 2-0 down only to lose out on penalties. 

“I think the boys who played in 2020 will use it as a motivation,” said Neilson.  “It’s back to that experience of coming here and we got back into the game twice before going to penalties and losing.  

“We were two kicks away from winning it and that experience should hopefully stand us in good stead for this year and hopefully we can come and win it.

“This is where we want to be, in finals and challenging for things. Ann Budge, Andrew McKinlay and everyone is trying to drive the club on and European football is where we want to be.”