"Don't worry, there are more than a few of us very in touch with the supporters, what with the number of ticket requests we get for these games," joked Hartley. "We know exactly what it's all about - an Old Firm final or playing for Celtic at any time. Some of us have supported Celtic before we signed for the club and winning is the be-all and end-all. We know what it's all about."
Even while making a living elsewhere as a professional footballer Paul Hartley has paid to watch the Hoops as a fan. He's been to support the team in cup finals as a fan, long before his dream of playing for the club became a wonderful reality, and he will hurt just as much as any other supporter in the stands if they should fail in their task to win the Co-operative Cup Final on Sunday.
The sheer volume of ticket requests he receives for the big occasions are probably testament to his assertion that he's totally in touch with his fellow fan "The ticket requests are not always from people I have known all my life. Guys come out the woodwork that I haven't seen for years." laughed Paul, "Even on the day of the game, I'm still getting requests!"
Paul remembers sitting in the stands at the Scottish Cup Final in 2002 when Martin O'Neill's Celtic side lost out to an injury time winner from the Huns. "That was a sore one to take," said Hartley of the 2-3 loss but he prefers to look forward rather than dwell on past hurts. "We are desperate for it to get started." he said, "If you win, it's terrific, if you lose, it's your worst nightmare. People are desperate to see the game. Everybody has been talking about it for weeks."
"I think the first goal may be all important this weekend. There is silverware at the end of this game. Whether it takes 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties, we want to get our hands on the trophy. If I am involved I don't have a problem taking a penalty."
"The last two games have been very tight affairs, nothing much happened in them," added the Celtic midfielder. "The game at Ibrox took a bit of brilliance from Scott McDonald to settle. It might take that, or a mistake by someone, to win again. You try to feel each other out, see how the game is going to pan out to begin with. Sometimes you are scared to make a mistake."
Hartley helped Hearts win the Scottish Cup at Hampden in 2006 and also helped Celtic to victory in the same competition a year later and even though he hasn't started a game since the 0-0 draw against the Huns last month he's very much in the manager's thoughts for this one. Celtic boss Strachan has used Hartley's combative skills to good effect in previous tussles against the Huns and he may feel that Sunday's game is tailor made for the hirsute midfield man.
"We have to try and get the St Mirren game out of our system as quickly as we can," Hartley said. "We are disappointed, but we know we have a massive game coming up on Sunday. It is one we are desperate to win. The Old Firm games are different from any other derbies, they are very intense in every respect. The build-up and media coverage is far greater and the atmosphere on the day is electric."