DEL’S NOT DON ALL HE CAN
GMS believes his boss should stay and bring success to Aberdeen
GARY MACKAY-STEVEN has slammed suggestions Derek McInnes has hit a glass ceiling at Aberdeen and is hoping his boss will resist the lure of Ibrox. The Dons manager is on Rangers’ wishlist after establishing the Pittodrie side as the second force in Scotland in recent years. Mackay-Steven scoffed at the notion McInnes has taken the club as far as he can and he is convinced his gaffer can drive the Dons to the next level. The former Celtic star said: “He’s been great with me and I’m delighted to be working under him right now. I think everyone feels the same. “He’s a great man-manager and has done a brilliant job here. He’s a great motivator who instils real belief in everyone. He’s just a winner.
“His record has shown it over the last few years and the players all want to work for him.
“I disagree that he’s taken Aberdeen as far as he can. As well as the job he has done here, there’s always the next season.
“As a player you always want to either replicate success or do even better and he’ll think the same as a manager.
“So I don’t agree with that at all. He continues to do a great job and he’s in a great place right now.”
Aberdeen dropped two points at Hamilton at the weekend but Mackay-Steven insisted the squad have not been distracted by talk about the manager’s future. He said: “I don’t think it’s had an impact at all. As far as the dressing room is concerned it’s all speculation.
“I don’t think it’s affected us one bit. Until someone tells us otherwise we’ll go about our business as usual.
“We want him to stay, definitely. I think I speak for all the boys when I say we want him to stay.
“You look at what he’s done for Aberdeen. He’s a great manager.
“It’s just speculation so we’ll keep doing what we do.”
Mackay-Steven admitted a point against Accies was a decent return given the Lanarkshire side’s impressive performance.
He said: “A point was probably a fair result. Hamilton played quite well but going ahead in the second half we were disappointed to lose a goal so soon after. Overall Hamilton were probably worthy of their point.
“It’s frustrating. We all went in feeling like it was a defeat because of the way the game panned out.
“We worked hard to get in front so it was disappointing.
“It’s different playing on the astro when you’re used to grass. The ball bounces differently but we’re not using that as an excuse.
“Hamilton do what they do really well. They fight for second balls, they’re aggressive and create chances. It’s a difficult place to come.
“As disappointed as we were, it’s another away point and there were a lot of positives. We’ll have a rest over the international break and go again. We want to continue the good work.”