Dillon urges United to keep their cool after over-the-top celebrations against Falkirk
At 36, Massimo Donati has seen it, done it and bought the body-hugging t-shirt. The Hamilton playmaker may spend more time screening his own back four than attacking the opposition’s these days but he is in no doubt about the significance of the play-off final against Dundee United.
The veteran Italian midfielder may yet find himself moved to the back four if Greek central defender Georgios Sarrisjoinsclubcaptainmikey Devlin on the sidelines but he will give his all in tonight’s first leg at Tannadice.
Donati won a championship medal in just over two seasons with Celtic and made over 300 appearances in Serie A for Atalanta, AC Milan, Parma, Torino, Sampdoria, Messina, Bari, Palermo and Hellas Verona.
However, he stressed that the head-to-head with Ray Mckinnon’s side means as much to him as those previous highlights.
“These two matches are as big as anything I have played in,” said Donati. “The past is the past and I have played in some really big games in Italy and in the Champions League.
“But, for me now, these two games that are coming up with Hamilton are the biggest of my career. These games are so big and so important for me and for the guys here.”
Donati has two years remaining on his contract at the Superseal Stadium but, for the moment, he is focusing solely on helping Hamilton to retain their Premiership status.
“I just want to play well and win for this team,” he said. “I don’t think about the future and I don’t think about the past; I only think about the present.
“I have two years left here and I want to stay in the Premiership – and so do all the guys here at Hamilton. I don’t want to play in the Championship.
“This is a big game. It’s so important for both teams at this point of the season. If you don’t do well, you don’t get a second chance. It’s so important for me and for the team and for the whole Hamilton family. We will be ready.
“I am aware that people’s jobs are on the line. Playing next season in the Championship will be a lot different to the Premiership. But it’s the same for Dundee United as well.”
Dropping out of the top tier would not be a new experience for Donati but it is one he has no wish to be reacquainted with.
“I have been relegated twice before in my career with Bari and with Palermo,” he said. “It did not feel good.
“You work and you train for a year and, at the end of the season, it’s not nice to go down. It’s like you’ve run all year for nothing.
“But it’s not just a personal blow, it’s a blow to the team and the entire club. I know how painful relegation can be and I don’t want that to happen again. It’s a failure.
“It’s the same for every team everywhere – it changes a lot of things. But right now I am just thinking about these next two games. There is pressure because you don’t get another chance but we are concentrating on winning.” Skipper Sean Dillon admits Dundee United went over the top with their celebrations after knocking out play-off rivals Falkirk.
The Tannadice side booked their place in this week’s Ladbrokes Premiership shootout with Hamilton by beating the Bairns.
Paul Dixon’s last-gasp winner at the Falkirk Stadium on Friday sparked a joyous party as Ray Mckinnon’s men lapped up their semi-final win. But Dillon, pictured, is concerned about the message those scenes sent out ahead of facing Accies over two legs for the right to reclaim their top-flight status. United welcome Martin Canning’s men to Tayside tonight for the opening battle and the Irishman has urged his team to this time act like they are the favourites and keep their cool.
Asked if celebrations should have been kept to a minimum, he told Arabzone: “That would have been my attitude to it. Different people react differently to winning.
“I’m not knocking anyone. Just because I’m a bit more reserved about it, that doesn’t mean the celebrations were wrong. That’s the way I was on Friday, while some of the lads showed their emotions a bit more. But for me it’s a semi-final and it’s great to win a semi-final. I think you should enjoy it, because how many of these moments have we had over the last couple of seasons?
“However, at the same time the Premiership is where we feel we belong. We can’t talk about saying we belong there and then be treating it like we’re surprised or shocked that we have won.
“We are a big club but noone has the God-given right to be in the top league. You have to perform enough to stay in the league and now we’re in a position where we have to do the business against Accies to get back in.”