This is one win Mackay-Steven WOULD enjoy
THE last time Aberdeen met Celtic in the Betfred Cup final, Gary MackaySteven ended the day with a winners’ medal in his hand and disappointment in his heart.
The November 2016 showpiece proved bittersweet for the winger, who was an unused substitute as a 3-0 win over the Dons secured the first trophy of Brendan Rodgers’ silverwareladen reign.
Happily for the 28-year-old, his switch to Pittodrie in the summer of 2017 has seen him go from a peripheral part of a Treble-winning team to the main danger man for Aberdeen.
On Sunday, when he takes the field against his former club in a Hampden final, he will be aiming to be at the heart of the action.
But he also insists he will be more motivated by the prospect of securing fresh glory for Aberdeen than by dashing any memories of his two-and-a-halfyear spell as a bit part at Celtic.
‘It’s never nice being on the bench watching a game,’ said Mackay-Steven. ‘Outwith being injured, it’s the worst part of being a footballer.
‘It’s not the same feeling when you win. You still celebrate but you definitely don’t celebrate as much or feel as good personally when you’re not involved.
‘Obviously every achievement and every medal is nice, especially when you stop playing and look back on your career. You want to be involved in the big games — and Celtic at Hampden is a big game.
‘It would be nice to play a big part on Sunday but the main thing is hopefully being on the winning side.
‘I don’t see (falling out of favour at Celtic) as motivation. I’ve just got a big motivation to win trophies at Aberdeen. It just so happens we’re playing Celtic in the final.
‘Celtic have shown in recent years they have been the best team. So it will be a good test for us. That’s all the motivation we really need.
‘For me, it’s all about the future and looking ahead and Sunday is going to be a big occasion for me and for the club.’
The only other cup final Mackay-Steven was involved in ended in disappointment.
He was part of an exciting young Dundee United team who were hot favourites to lift the 2014 Scottish Cup against St Johnstone. But Tommy Wright’s men won 2-0 at Celtic Park with Mackay-Steven replaced by Ryan Gauld after 64 minutes.
‘Looking back on that cup final is the worst,’ he said. ‘It’s the worst feeling being on the losing side. You never want that.
‘But I feel we’ve got a big chance on Sunday. It would be amazing for us as players and for the city if we could bring a trophy back to Aberdeen.
‘I’ve seen the scenes there last time this club won the League Cup (in 2014)— it was massive.
‘There were thousands of fans watching the bus parade. It would mean a lot to the people if we win on Sunday.
‘Hopefully we can deliver a trophy for them.’
Under Rodgers, Celtic have won the last six consecutive domestic trophies. But MackaySteven is adamant Derek McInnes has the players capable of ending that remarkable run.
‘Celtic have been so successful the past few years,’ he noted. ‘So we’re under no illusions it will be hard. But it will be important to have another team winning a trophy.
‘Sunday is a big chance for us to have a crack at it. When I look around the dressing room I see match-winners and that gives us confidence.
‘In the semi-final against Rangers, young Lewis Ferguson stepped up with a big moment to win the game.
‘It’s the first season Lewis has played in really big games and he’s shown he’s capable.
‘But there are other players with big moments in them too, hopefully on Sunday.
‘We’ve had a tough cup run, playing Hibs at Easter Road in the quarter-finals then Rangers at Hampden in the semi.
‘But we’ve come out on top in every game so far.
‘Celtic will be heavy favourites and people can label us underdogs, but we’re always quietly confident in our abilities.’