Derek’s gut told him of a special season
He’s a details man, in total control and full possession of the facts.
But when it comes to Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final against Celtic, the Aberdeen boss has an inkling he just can’t shake.
Way back in June 2016, when McInnes gathered his players for pre-season training, he felt it immediately.
It was there in the look of the squad he had built, leaner than before, but meaner with it.
They looked like winners – a team capable of lifting a trophy – and the Dons gaffer didn’t keep his thoughts to himself.
“I said to the players at the start of the season that I felt this was going to be a special season for us,” he says.
“While we lost one cup final, which we were disappointed with, we’ll finish second in the league.
“But special means winning a trophy. Hopefully I was right with that prediction.
“Sometimes you just get a gut feeling with a group of boys. You go over certain hurdles as you go along but Tony Docherty and I have always felt this could be a special season.
“Hopefully that plays out at Hampden.”
Such is McInnes’ reputation for meticulousness, it would be easy to surmise that he told his players about his “feeling” only after careful consideration.
After all, it isn’t necessarily a worthless seed to plant.
However, the Dons gaffer insists it was spur of the moment, even though it has now come incredibly close to being borne out.
“I actually said it because I felt it, it wasn’t pre-meditated,” says McInnes.
“Whatever the players take from that, I don’t know. But I did feel it from early on in the season.
“Although we had a tighter squad I felt I had a better squad.
“You can only ever judge if your squad is better at the end of the season when you reflect.
“But certainly, up until now, there’s been enough to suggest this squad has been the best we’ve had yet.”
It is hard to argue with McInnes’ assessment.
However, having avoided seismic change over the last few years, this summer will see the departure of several key men – and the arrival of their as-yet unknown replacements.
Niall McGinn and Peter Pawlett will both sign off as Dons after the Cup Final, while captain Ryan Jack is also likely to leave.
Several others have yet to sign new deals, including towering centre-half Ash Taylor.
And McInnes has told his departing stars to do themselves – and the club – justice at Hampden.
“I’ve already said to two or three of them, who we know for sure are leaving,” he said.
“Make sure your last game for Aberdeen is us sitting in the dressing room together, bottle of beer and a winner’s medal in your hand.
“I think if players can leave with a winner’s medal then it’s a great way to go.”