Sergio relishing 'big moment'

18 August 2011 07:41
Hearts manager Paulo Sergio has called on his players to make history in Thursday night's Europa League play-off with Tottenham at Tynecastle.[LNB] Sergio is unfazed by the challenge posed by Spurs, who last season beat Inter Milan and AC Milan in the Champions League before being eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Real Madrid, and will urge his players to seize their opportunity.[LNB]He said: "Every professional in football wants to live big moments and I'm no different.[LNB]"We recognise Spurs are favourites - there's no doubt about that - but we want to compete with the best.[LNB]"It's a different game. It's going to be in our history - I hope in a positive way."[LNB]Sergio steered Hearts to a first Scottish Premier League win of the season against Aberdeen last Saturday and was in a jovial mood at his eve of match media conference - even suggesting owner Vladimir Romanov had already picked the team.[LNB]Romanov has previously meddled in team selection during his seven years at Tynecastle and is infamous for wielding the managerial axe, the most recent example coming when Jim Jefferies was replaced by Sergio two days before the last European fixture, the win over Hungary's Paks two weeks ago.[LNB]Romanov was at Hearts' Edinburgh training base on Wednesday and the Portuguese coach met the Lithuanian afterwards.[LNB]Sergio said: "I talked a little bit after the practice with him - and he told me the 11 players to play. No problem."[LNB]A number of players absent through injury until this week have returned to the matchday squad, eager to be part of the contest billed in some quarters as a 'Battle of Britain'.[LNB]Andy Webster has been absent since the opening day of the SPL season with a groin problem but is back in the squad, while David Obua is available again following a hamstring complaint.[LNB]Only Mehdi Taouil (groin) and long-term absentees Kevin Kyle (hip) and Calum Elliot (knee) are unavailable.[LNB]Ryan Stevenson, who is poised to start alongside former Spurs trainee John Sutton, is aware of the challenge.[LNB]Stevenson followed Spurs' European adventure last term, but was trying to put memories, including Gareth Bale's hat-trick in the San Siro, to the back of his mind.[LNB]He added: "I watched them, but I'm trying to forget about them just now.[LNB]"We're positive, we know it's going to be a hard task, but it's a game we're looking forward to."

Source: Team_Talk