McInnes would rather win semi- final than bolster league position
ASK most club chairmen whether they would swap their Premiership status for major silverware and their reply would be based on the bottom line. The higher attendances and revenue from sponsors and broadcasters would likely tip the balance in favour of survival rather than Hampden glory.
Of course, both would be preferable but Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes, whose team face leaders Celtic at Parkhead this afternoon and again at Hampden in the semi- final of the Viaplay Cup seven days later, implied that, if push came to shove, he would grab the winner’s medal.
He led Kilmarnock ( and, before them, St Johnstone) into the top tier last year and also delivered Aberdeen’s last major trophy, the League Cup, in 2014. Killie currently occupy ninth place but are only four points clear of basement club Ross County and just one ahead of Dundee United in the play- off position.
Even so, the 51- year- old suggested that cup final appearances resonate far longer than relegation might do.
“If I could win one of [ the two meetings with Celtic] which would it be?” he said. “It’s a tough one because the club hasn’t been to Hampden for 11 years so that presents a real opportunity to reach a cup final.
“However, we can’t be thinking that we’ll save everything for next weekend and that this is just a dress rehearsal.
“They’ll know all about us and we certainly know about them so that’s not how I see it. The players should look at tomorrow’s game as a chance to put themselves into the side for Hampden.
“I write the team lines out but I don’t pick the team: the players do that by playing well and training hard every day.”
Yet, naturally, he wants it all, to the extent that he will set his team up in a way which maximises the potential for them to become the first Scottish club to win in the east end of Glasgow since Ange Postecoglou succeeded Neil Lennon as manager in the summer of 2021. Since then the Australian has 28 wins and three draws against domestic opposition.
“It would be good to become the first [ to beat them] but we’re on a run of games now where we’re going to be stretched and tested but I’m looking forward to it for a load of reasons,” said McInnes.
“I’m interested in how my team copes at Parkhead and how they deal with the problems which will arise.
“I’ll find out more about my players but this is an opportunity for them to step forward and prove that they should be playing in that semi- final.
“Celtic have a better level of player and so many other advantages over us but I think, from our point of view, that we show courage, confidence, personality and determination because we need to do a lot of things right to get a result there and that’s our intention.
“Our aim will be to disrupt the flow of their play, to try and annoy and frustrate them. We recognise their strengths but we also recognise our own: I don’t want any of our boys turning up there tomorrow thinking that we can’t win.”
Club captain Alan Power and fellow midfielder Liam Donnelly are eligible today after suspension while new signing Kyle Vassell, the striker who arrived from San Diego Loyal on New Year’s Day, could make his debut after revealing he hoped the move would help him add to the two caps he has for Northern Ireland.
“My aim is to get back into the Ireland squad,” said the 29- year- old. “I know from before that the manager, Michael O’Neill, watches this league more than most. In fact, I was pushed to come up here a few years ago because it would be good for my international career.”