34 YEARS.. WE NEED TO BELIEVE IT WON’T BE 35
Leven is dreaming of historic Scottish Cup triumph for Dons
STEPPING into the Aberdeen manager’s job has given Peter Leven sleepless nights but now he is dreaming of Scottish Cup glory.
The interim boss, who will remain in charge until Jimmy thelin comes in over the summer, takes the Dons to Hampden tomorrow lunchtime looking to come out on top in their Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic.
The bookmakers’ odds are stacked firmly against aberdeen but they go into this game with some confidence on the back of a four-game unbeaten run.
They have had a disappointing Premiership campaign but their cup assaults is where they have come to life, with a viaplay Cup Final appearance along with some morale-boosting displays in the Europa Conference league group stage.
Leven also has form as he took charge for the first time against Celtic and managed to come out with a well-deserved Pittodrie point.
It has been 34 years since aberdeen last lifted the cup.
Could it provide the reds and leven with a silver lining to this, so far, disappointing season?
“There is a big prize there as it is the Scottish Cup,” Leven said.
“I have said that to the boys that are not familiar with it, that it is a huge trophy in Scottish football to win.
“It is two games. We go into Saturday’s game believing we can win that.
“And if you are in the final you have a chance.
“As a staff, we told them you can be heroes for a long, long time here if you win the Cup.
“For a club like this not to have won the Scottish Cup since 1990, it has been a while. We just have to keep believing and on the day you never know.”
Leven has enjoyed the experience of being his own man and this will be his big moment.
He said: “i’ve really enjoyed it. Sleepless nights at times. i’m not going to lie to you.
“But i have always said i will do what i can for the club.
“Waking up at five in the morning thinking ‘oh no, have i made the right decision?’.
“We are all going to make mistakes. But it is learning from those and moving forward.
“I’m enjoying it but you only enjoy it when you’re winning.”
Leven could have another long night as he tries to come up with a game plan that can hurt Celtic and cause Brendan rodgers issues.
He said: “He (rodgers) has coached in the Premier league and every time i’ve met him after a game he is a really nice guy.
“It will be good to go up against him again.
“I have reiterated to them, believe in yourself, let’s have a go as it is a one-off game and anything can happen.
“I take a lot of confidence from the last game against Celtic (1-1, February) but also the last four games.
“I just said to the players that they are unbeaten in four and have lost two goals in the last five games.
“We are ranked one in conceding goals in the last five games and we will need that on Saturday as Celtic are a top team. So we are going to have to rely on defending at times.
“However, we are going to bring our own game and hopefully hurt Celtic’s defence too.”
Aberdeen will go back to Hampden for the first time since their Viaplay Cup Final defeat to Rangers.
Leven stated it was a long way back up the road after that but that bitter experience should act as an added motivation.
“That was the first time there for a few players,” the stand-in boss said.
“Now we go back again.
“it wasn’t nice. it is not nice losing any game but a final is worse.
“Celtic are a top team but we have a game plan for this one.”