DUNDEE UTD v HAMILTON, TONIGHT, 7.45
HE has played in the Champions League for Celtic and has faced the giants of Serie A. But Massimo Donati insists Hamilton’s two play-off ties with Dundee United are the most important games of his career. The 36-year-old midfielder had his crowning moment for the Hoops when he scored a last-minute winner against Shakhtar Donetsk in a 2-1 group stage win in November 2007. But the Italian has also suffered the agony of relegation twice – with Bari and Palermo in his homeland’s top flight. So Donati is determined to avoid having another demotion on his CV with Accies. He said: “The two matches in the Premiership play-off final are as big as anything. “The past is the past and I have played in some really big games in Italy and in the Champions League with Celtic. “For me now these are the two biggest games in my career that are coming up. “I have been relegated twice before in my career with Bari and with Palermo. “It did not feel good. You work and you train for a year and at the end of the season it’s not nice to go down. “It’s like you’ve run all year for nothing. “It’s not just a personal blow, it’s a blow to the team and the entire club. I know how painful relegation can be and I don’t want that to happen again. “It’s a failure. These are two massive games. “It’s so important for both teams at this point of the season. If you don’t do well you don’t get a second chance. “These games are so big and so important for me and for the guys here. It’s so important for me and for the team and for the whole Hamilton family. We will be ready.” Donati knows the consequences could be severe for Martin Canning’s side should they fall through the trap door and into the Championship. Budgets would be slashed and jobs could be lost. It’s a pressure cooker but one Donati is ready to embrace rather than fear. He said: “I am aware of that. Playing next season in the Championship will be a lot different to the Premiership. “It’s the same for Dundee United as well. They will want to be back in the Premiership so it’s a big game.
“I said goodbye to team-mates and members of staff at other clubs when I suffered relegation.
“It’s the same for every team after relegation. It changes a lot of things.
“But right now I am just thinking about the next two games.
“It is a bit of pressure because you don’t get another chance but we are concentrating on winning.
“Pressure is normal in football. In every game there is pressure and we just need to concentrate.”
Donati revealed Accies have already done their homework on their opponents.
Having dodged automatic relegation after a thumping 4-0 win over Dundee last Saturday he insists Hamilton are ready to go toe to toe and battle it out with United.
And the Italian would put himself on the spot if it goes right down to the wire.
Donati said: “Dundee United are a good team, a strong team physically with a few very good players.
“This season we have played Livingston from League One and Morton from the Championship and they were hard games.
“They were big battles because they wanted to prove they are capable of playing in the Premiership.
“Saturday’s win against Dundee was important. If we had lost we would have been relegated.
“We concentrated and had a very good game. But the game before against Ross County we didn’t deserve to lose because we played really well and created lots of chances.
“Some games this season we have deserved to lose and some we have deserved to win.
“At this moment of the season we have to forget the past and concentrate on these two games.
“As for taking a penalty if it goes to a shootout why not? I would feel confident.”
With two years left on his Accies deal, Donati insists he is hell-bent on securing his future by staying in the top level of Scottish football.
Donati said: “I just want to play well and win for this team. I don’t think about the future.
“I don’t think about the past. I only think about the present.
“I have two years left on my contract and I want to stay in the Premiership – and so do all the guys here at Hamilton.”
You work for a year and at the end of the season it’s not nice to go down MASSIMO DONATI