McINNES NOT WORRIED BY RIVAL PROGRESS
DEREK McINNES insists he is not interested in what the competition is doing — with the year-on-year improvement of Aberdeen his only concern. Last season the Pittodrie side held off challenges from Rangers and Hibernian to claim the runners-up spot in the Premiership for the fourth successive year. Shambolic last term under Pedro Caixinha, the Ibrox side are expected to mount a sterner challenge under Steven Gerrard, with Neil Lennon’s resurgent Hibs, Kilmarnock and Hearts liable to do likewise. But McInnes is adamant the expected squeeze in the top half of the division won’t keep him awake at night — as his players have dealt with it all before. ‘In the last couple of years people have said that it would be the toughest year yet, and last year was the same,’ he said. ‘Nobody expected us to finish second again, and I think everybody expected Celtic to finish first. ‘I can’t be hung up or obsessed with what other clubs are doing. ‘We’ve just got to expect other teams to improve, but also expect that of ourselves to improve.’ The Dons claimed just three fewer points last term than in 2016-17 but made a meek exit from both cups at the hands of Motherwell. Seeking to reprise the kind of form that saw them reach both finals two years ago, McInnes added: ‘For us to amass 73 points in the league last season was a fantastic effort from the players. ‘That was a real highlight for us, the league form. ‘The cups were a disappointment and there’s room for improvement for us in the season ahead, but we just want to try and be as competitive as we can again, regardless of what others are doing.’