Derek: Hoops need Treble
league and be beaten in both the Betfred Cup final and narrowly in the Scottish Cup final in May.
The Pittodrie manager recognises it’s up to Aberdeen and the other clubs in the top flight to break Celtic’s dominance, but he admits the Glasgow side must be viewed as overwhelming favourites on all fronts.
“That’s the challenge for us all to stop it,” said McInnes, speaking at Aberdeen’s training base in Dubai. “It is tough. They have lost their domestic unbeaten run and it was always going to be tough to stop that.
“Celtic are so far ahead resources-wise that I think it would be seen as a disappointing campaign if they didn’t win a treble to be honest.
‘They should be favourites in every domestic competition – huge favourites.
“We have to be near our best to get a result while that doesn’t need to be the case for Celtic.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen yesterday announce the signing of Manchester City starlet Chidi Nwakali on loan until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old central midfielder has been brought in to bolster the Pittodrie club’s challenge in the second half of the campaign.
A Nigeria Under-20 cap, Nwakali has been on loan in Norway with Sogndal and Start but is now eyeing a call up to the full international set up ahead of this year’s World Cup.
“Manchester City have been keen for players to come to Aberdeen and develop their game time with us,” said McInnes.
“This is one we have been working on for the last couple of months and I’m delighted to get it done. Chidi is hoping to make the Nigerian World Cup squad and he is with us here in Dubai.”