We went toe to toe with the most formidable side in a generation ... that day told us all we ARE a big club
What I liked about us that day was there was attitude on the terraces and the pitch ... they all felt like they were going to win it McINNES
DEREK McINNES suffered Scottish Cup Final agony last season but insists that’s the day Aberdeen came of age.
The Dons manager is determined to make it back-to-back finals by beating Motherwell on Saturday to preserve their status as genuine trophy hunters.
McInnes may only have a League Cup from 2014 to show for his five campaigns at Pittodrie but his men are now convinced they can win silverware.
The Reds came agonisingly close last BY GORDON PARKS May when a misplaced pass from then Dons star Jonny Hayes to the onrushing Kenny McLean in front of goal proved so costly.
McInnes still rues that golden opportunity minutes before Tom Rogic’s late winner ensured the game ended in disappointment for Aberdeen. But the gaffer insists his side relaunched themselves as a big club that afternoon by pushing the champions all the way. McInnes said: “There was a lot of pride after the Scottish Cup Final. We were inches away from winning – a pass away. “I definitely felt if we had scored we would have won the Cup. “It was the culmination of a squad that had been built over four years. It felt like the final swansong for that squad.
“We were so close to winning, there was pride but disappointment which was the overriding factor.
“What I liked about us that day was there was an attitude on the terraces and also on the pitch.
“We rolled into Hampden feeling at home. It was our fourth time there that season.
“There was an attitude in the team and individually. They all felt like they were going to win it.
“Although they didn’t win it pleased me no end that I had players who felt they were going to win it.
“That’s not always been the case. We looked like a big club with the display and banners from the fans.
“Everything before the game felt like a proper head to head against probably the most formidable team in a generation.
“A team that were rightly applauded and we went toe to toe with them.
“We were rightly applauded but it just makes you realise you are working for a bigger
club with these demands. You want to get back there again.
“We’ll remind the players of that day this week and what a cup final day entails because we have a lot of new signings.
“If we can get back to a cup final in the first year with this new squad then that will be a decent showing for us. Hopefully it’s the first of many for them.”
But also missing out on the League Cup to the Hoops last term and being sent spinning out of the competition by Well a few months ago has added to the growing belief of some observers the Dons suffer stage fright on the big stage.
McInnes bristles at the suggestion insisting his men will battle to maintain their status as the second best team in Scotland and be challenging for silverware come May.
He said: “I don’t want to be standing outside looking in while everyone else fights it out for second in the Premiership.
“And I don’t want to be on my holidays watching the cup final when it’s not Aberdeen there. We want to be in among it and we want to be there. That’s where we are at the minute, on the cusp of both, and hopefully we’ll get right over the line this season. People can suit their arguments when it comes to big games.
“We’ve won enough big games over the years and also lost a few because we’ve put ourselves in a position we play more bigger games.
“Aberdeen up until not so long ago weren’t playing bigger games.
“We want to make sure it goes our way this season and we’ve got five brilliant games to look forward to until after
the split. Hopefully two cup games can reinforce the competitive side of the club as well.
“Criticism from my team usually comes from when we lose to Rangers or Celtic.”
But it’s last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Hearts that’s been an unfortunate hiccup in what’s been a decent run of performances recently.
However, McInnes is adamant their semi-final clash at Hampden this weekend will provide the platform for his men to bounce back.
He said: “Every conversation I have with players who come to Aberdeen involves the opportunity of playing in big games and meaningful games.
“The semi-final is exactly that. We look forward to that. I’m sure the players will as well.
“Whether there’s one or two players there who haven’t played as much as they would have liked since they came.
“Maybe one or two will get that opportunity to perform on a good stage and a good level for them.
“Hopefully they will respond to that. I’m confident that we’ve got enough confident players with the ability to deal with that situation.”