FORMER Hibs star David Zitelli has backed the club to clinch third place in the SPL as long as overcome any end-of-season nerves.
The Easter Road outfit are embroiled in a three-way fight with Dundee United and Motherwell for the right to claim the "best of the rest" tag and secure UEFA Cup qualification.
The Hibees have only managed third-place finishes twice in recent year
s, back in 2000/2001 when Zitelli was an integral part of the team alongside current boss Mixu Paatelainen, and again in 2004/2005.
Zitelli, below right, and his team-mates eventually made third place their own with some room to spare, finishing 12 points clear of nearest challengers Kilmarnock.
However, it wasn't all plain sailing and fans' favourite Zitelli recalls a nervous end to the campaign during which his side recorded just two wins in their final ten games as they stumbled over the finishing line.
And he says that the added pressure which comes with the climax of a season is something that Hibs will have to cope with if they are to complete an impressive debut season for Paatelainen as manager.
"When we finished in third place in my time at Hibs it was a big achievement," recalled the ex-Strasbourg striker.
"We played some very good football all season and had some very good results – including 6-2 against Hearts. I think that we deserved to be third at the end of it although the way we finished the season wasn't so good.
"I don't know why results weren't so great because we had the same players but things just didn't go for us. Perhaps it was nerves even though we were quite experienced.
"Nerves can make players make mistakes and that is something Hibs will have to be careful of as they have quite a young squad. But if they can stay focused then I definitely think they have good enough players to get third place.
"They just need to keep on doing what they have been and put in a big effort in the matches that they have remaining."
Should Hibs succeed in pipping their rivals to third place – a scenario that seemed highly unlikely earlier in the season – Zitelli insisted that his former team-mate Paatelainen deserves enormous credit. The Finn took over a Hibs side low on confidence after a poor run of results under previous boss John Collins.
Yet Paatelainen has quickly turned things around and helped the Hibees to force their way into contention for European qualification.
"Mixu has done a really good job since going to Hibs," said Zitelli, who spent just under two years at Easter Road.
"He seems to be able to get the best out of players and make them want to do well for him. That is important in a manager.
"When I played alongside him he demanded a lot from his team-mates and I would imagine that he is exactly the same now he is in management.
"He played at a high level and always pushed himself and I'm sure he will expect just the same from the guys at Hibs.
"I always thought Mixu would do well as a manager and I'm pleased that seems to be the case now he is back with Hibs."
The full article contains 560 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
