DONS ARE TOLD TO BE FEARLESS
AS Sir Alex Ferguson once said, Aberdeen’s season is so often shaped by how they fare on their trips to Glasgow. Given that the new Premiership campaign is just kicking off, no definitive conclusions will be drawn from what happens at Celtic Park tomorrow.
But it will offer an insight into what the new season might hold for the Dons under Jim Goodwin.
They will arrive at Parkhead imbued by a growing sense of confidence that has built over recent weeks.
Goodwin’s side negotiated the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup with minimal fuss, winning all four games, scoring 12 goals and not conceding.
There is, of course, a vast difference from playing against the likes of Stirling and Peterhead compared to the reigning Premiership champions.
Yet Aberdeen fans are optimistic their team will enjoy a far better season than last time around, when they became dragged into a relegation fight.
Goodwin has also spent almost £1.5million in transfer fees in revamping the squad.
There will be a party atmosphere as Celtic Park holds a flag day for Ange Postecoglou’s side, but Goodwin insists his team will show no fear.
Challenging them to be partypoopers, he said: ‘We’re well aware of the celebrations that will be going on at Parkhead. We have to try and not get distracted and stay focused on the job in hand. There’s never an easy time to go to Celtic Park.
‘It’s up to us to try and keep their supporters quiet — and to do that we have to be on it.
‘It’s going to be a tough game, but we’ve got a good bit of confidence off the back of the cup competition and hopefully that will stand us in good stead.’
Goodwin won at Celtic Park in January last year whilst in charge of St Mirren and will be aiming to repeat the trick.
He also feels Aberdeen can replicate what Hearts did on the opening day of last season by giving Postecoglou’s side a bloody nose.
‘We looked at what Hearts did last season when they beat them early on,’ he said. ‘There’s no reason why we can’t do the same. We’ve got players who haven’t played at Parkhead before, who have never experienced that atmosphere. These boys are really excited about it.
‘This is the reason they came to Scotland, to play at venues like this in big games against international quality players. It’s going to be a great test for the young group of players but one they’re certainly not going to shy away from.
‘They’ve all settled in very well and they’ve got no fear of Celtic because they’ve never been there before.
‘We are aware of how tough the task is against the current champions but I went there once with St Mirren when nobody gave us a hope in hell.’
Dons winger Jonny Hayes is of the same mindset, insisting that tomorrow’s trip to Celtic Park does not represent a ‘free hit’.
Hayes, who spent three years at Celtic, said: ‘I hate the mentality that it’s a free hit. If that’s the case, then why bother turning up?’
Goodwin played down suggestions that the level of investment made available to him this summer brings an added sense of pressure and expectation.
Macedonia striker Bojan Miovski has been the most eye-catching addition after signing for just over £500,000 from MTK Budapest.
Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes arrived for around £400,000, while Ylber Ramadani, Cal Roberts and Jayden Richardson all commanded transfer fees as well.
Goodwin, who still wants to add another two players, also claimed that David Bates remains part of his plans after a move to Legia Warsaw fell through this week.
Asked about his targets for the new season, he said: ‘Getting back into Europe, going far in the domestic cups and getting to Hampden to give the fans a day out.
‘The playing budget is the same as last season. We’ve just been spending it slightly different but, in fairness, the board have put a transfer fee budget up as well.’