Sunday 7 February 2016 07:29, UK
Paulo Sergio has tipped former club Hearts to see off Hibernian in the Scottish Cup this weekend while admitting he would jump at the chance to get back into management in Scotland.
The Portuguese, who guided Hearts to their memorable 5-1 rout of their City rivals at Hampden in May 2012, missed out on a possible return to the Premiership this year but concedes he has a 'very good feeling' about British footballing culture.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "Hearts are favourites but as always when you are favourites you have to prove it on the pitch. Hibernian are used to winning games too because they are fighting to get promotion so it's a team that is also playing good football.
"I believe it is going to be tight, it's going to be difficult because Hibs are a team that are playing good football too, so the Hearts team has to be very, very focused and can't relax at any second."
Reflecting on the Scottish Cup win over Hibs four years ago, he said: "If you remember we were lots of times without getting paid, we sold important players in January. So the tightness and the strength of this group was amazing with young players and older ones helping a lot.
"For everybody it was a great, great memory. For me too it was the year that we played four times against the rivals in the city and I think it's unique too because all four times we beat them."
Having seen a job opportunity in Saudi Arabia fall through, Sergio - who left Hearts just three weeks after the Cup success - revealed he let a recent opportunity to return to Scotland slip through his fingers.
"I had a phone call from a Scottish club this year but in the end it was my fault," he said. "The chairman was waiting to speak with me on Skype but I had people in my house and after this I didn't speak with the chairman but I would love to have a chance to return to the UK for sure.
"I love the atmosphere of singing, people supporting the players. I always respect everybody so I always felt respected in Edinburgh and when I came here to Hampden, Ibrox or to Celtic Park to see games. So I have a very good feeling about football here and I would love to get the chance to do my work, my career here in the UK."
Watch Hearts v Hibernian in the Scottish Cup, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 12pm on Sunday.
