Shaun Maloney knows hurting Hibs have the perfect chance for derby payback by souring Hearts’ season with a Scottish Cup semi-final win.
The Easter Road outfit were left frustrated and hurt last weekend as they lost 3-1 at Tynecastle and as a result missed out on the Premiership top six.
The Hibs boss is well aware that they can still put a silver-lining on their campaign by going all the way to the final and potentially denying the Jambos a money-spinning crack at the Europa League.
Robbie Neilson’s side have all but sealed third place in the league but if Hibs were to go all the way and lift the cup then they would push their rivals into the Europa Conference League.
Maloney, when asked if Hearts’ season could be soured on Saturday, replied: “Yes, it would be.
“They have been very consistent in the league but they also know that the first 25-30 minutes of last week’s game we were very good.
“They know if we produce that over 90 minutes — and that’s the big question — that we change the narrative of their season.”
Maloney and his team are pleased that it is back-to-back derbies as it is not only the road to Hampden but also to redemption.
He acknowledged: “Yes, it gives us a brilliant opportunity now to completely change our season and it also gives us an opportunity to change our rivals’ season — and they know that and the brilliant thing is that we know that as well.
“We have that opportunity very quickly after a big disappointment.
“The brilliant thing is this game comes so soon after a big disappointment.
“And we have a chance to change the narrative of our season, and in doing that we can change the narrative of our biggest rivals, and they’ll know that too.
“That’s in our hands, it’s up to our performance, but we have to show it on the pitch.”
The Hibs players came in from some rather harsh criticism last week and some of those words started with their own manager.
Maloney insisted: “What I said after the game wasn’t to inspire a reaction, it was just real disappointment about aspects of our performance.
“The days after that were when I spoke to the players individually and a group, and in those moments I wanted to give them real clarity on why we got beat.
“And once I did that then you have to see the difference that gives to them in training and that dictates the selection of the game.”
The ironic thing was that Hibs started well in the last derby and went ahead. Maloney is confident his team can put on a more complete performance at Hampden.
He has already pinpointed the things his players need to do better and where they can get joy from Hearts.
The Hibs manager stated: “I don’t want to speak too much about it but I was very clear that night and the very next morning on why that result happened.
“We have confidence in what we need to do this week to give ourselves the best opportunity to win.
“As always in football the talking will be done on the pitch and there’s no better place than Hampden in a semi final.
‘“I know there are reasons we lost the game. We have to show on Saturday that we are not going to produce certain things we did and that will give us a better opportunity to win the game.
“The players earned that right with their performance and result at Motherwell (in the last round).
“That’s what has to happen. The feeling of hurt after the last game has to turn pretty quickly into the reason why we got beat.
“Then there are certain things we have to change to give ourselves the best opportunity to win this weekend.
“So it’s a brilliant opportunity the team has and we have to change the narrative of our season.
“It’s a balance of understanding why and being really clear on the feelings that these big derbies come with particularly when the result is not positive.
“We need to use that this weekend and every weekend now. We really don’t want to feel like we did last weekend. We need to use that.”
Maloney doesn’t believe there is a mentality issue within his squad and reckons that department will also be bolstered by defender Ryan Porteous, who returns from a Premiership ban.
Maloney acknowledged: “(He’s) huge. He is just a big personality in those big games.
“His performance in the last derby game (at Easter Road) was outstanding.
“He showed big personality in the fight but also to play. So it’s a real big positive to have him back for this game. I’m looking forward to seeing his performance.
“I hope he will bring out the best in others.
“He brings a certain character to our team that is definitely missing in the big game.
“You forget he is only 22. It’s a big positive that he’s back for this game.”
He knows there is a pressure on Hibs going into this game but has claimed it should be put on him and not his players.
Maloney stated: “It’s an opportunity we have given ourselves three or four months into the job, to be at Hampden in a semi-final is a big positive, but we have to go and produce a performance to go and beat our biggest rivals.
“In terms of taking all the pressure I’d much rather all the pressure and noise was on me rather than the players.
“And I hope that’s the case now, next season, 18 months time, two years time, I hope that continually stays the same.”
