Cup final flops still rankle Dons boss
Derek Mcinnes admits he is tormented by Aberdeen’s failure to bank more than one trophy on his watch.
The Dons lifted the League Cup during Mcinnes’ first full season in charge, ending a 19-year trophy drought in the process.
Since then, two more Cup Final appearances and five semi-finals have yielded nothing.
That’s a record Mcinnes is unhappy with.
Now, with Dundee United standing between his Aberdeen side and a place in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, it’s one he’s determined to put right.
“Does it rankle that we’ve only won one trophy? It does,” he said.
“We’ve been to three cup finals and five semi-finals in four-and-a-half years. We’ve been there or thereabouts.
“We’ve had missed opportunities. I’ll probably remember the ones we lose more than the ones we win.
“We won a couple last year and dealt with that side of it and went to Hampden four times last season.
“It’s probably the semi-finals we’ve lost that are still a bit fresher.
“But that’s cup football, and we’re well aware of that. We’ve got to make sure that, although we have ambition to get to the Cup Final, we’ve got to negotiate each gameaswego.
“We’ve got a tough game. United, for loads of reasons, will be keen to pitch themselves up against us.
“It’s a game always eagerly anticipated with supporters and staff of both clubs.”
Aberdeen’s top-of-the-table meetings with Dundee United used to be billed as the New Firm derby.
Today, the infirm Tangerines’ struggle to escape the Championship is their major concern.
Having played for United towards the end of his career, Aberdeen’s manager is sympathetic to the Tannadice club’s plight.
But Mcinnes believes they will find their way back to the top tier of Scottish football – even if it’s not this season.
“Having played there and known the ins and outs of the club and what it means to the supporters, I’m sure it’ll be pivotal in their minds to get back up,” he said.
“It’s not always just about good players and a good manager, it’s got to be a huge collective effort for any team to have success.
“I’m sure United will get there in time.”