Football Focus

Last updated : 01 October 2011 By Ed_scottishfitba

Hearts v Celtic logosPaulo Sergio fully expects tomorrow's game against Celtic to make headlines but for all the right footballing reasons. The game is a rematch of the infamous one in which saw the visitors run out comfortable 3-0 winners. That game was marred by the invasion of the pitch and assault on visiting manager Neil Lennon. Sergio was not the manager at the time but described the incident as "unacceptable" but fully expects the focus to be back on football this weekend. The former Sporting Lisbon coach said: "It's the kind of thing that shouldn't happen in football. I respect all of my opponents, and I hope all we are talking about on Sunday is football. We have the best crowd in Scotland, they are incredible, and I'm sure we will receive our visitors well. It was the kind of thing that can happen, but it was an isolated case. We are not thinking about this issue ahead of the match - we are working on how to prepare our players and how to win the match."
 
While the Hearts manager expects the fans to control themselves,  the managers could do with taking a leaf out of their book to focus their passion on the game. Both get fully involved from the sidelines so there could be some fireworks. The pair have already been in opposite dugouts during a pre-season friendly between Sporting Lisbon and Celtic in Boston, and the Hearts manager admits they are unlikely to find much common ground in Gorgie. Smiling, Sergio went on: "I met Neil in Boston when we played. During the game we had discussions and didn't always agree. We want the best for our teams and sometimes we didn't agree on the referee's decisions, but at the end of the game I offered him my hand - it's normal, it's football."
 
While the fans may get carried away, Sergio wants his players to focus on the game - not the occasion. Hearts are unbeaten at home in the league under Sergio - a fact which has gone some way to assuage criticisms of the club's dismal away form - and the visit of Celtic will undoubtedly test Tynecastle's fortress credentials. He continued: "We should be cool in our head every game. We should focus on the football and get the three points. All emotional things around the match are for the fans and the people, and not for the professionals."