Reynolds: Dons are up for Celtic challenge
Reynolds says Dons can be rated serious contenders for title
AS Aberdeen streaked to a record-breaking start to last season, it was almost as if those at Pittodrie had taken a vow of Omerta. In the Granite City, stony faces were the response to enquiries as to whether Derek McInnes’ men were genuine title contenders.
The impression given was of a group of players knowing that anyone not found toeing the party line would soon be found wearing concrete slippers at the foot of the River Don.
That vow of silence only softened towards the tail end of the campaign, before the Dons ended up finishing 15 points behind champions Celtic.
So it was a surprise to hear defender Mark Reynolds speak openly on the issue yesterday as Aberdeen prepare to visit Celtic Park today in their fourth game of the new Premiership campaign.
Denying there was any in-house party whip on the issue last season, Reynolds believes the mantle of title contenders now sits a little easier on this group of players. He also feels the progress in the last three years under McInnes means being viewed as challengers is no longer an outlandish prospect.
‘Are we more comfortable being regarded as title challengers now? Yes, probably,’ said Reynolds.
‘We have never really bothered about whether people consider us challengers or not.
‘Since the manager came in, we’ve kept everything in house, all our beliefs and aims.
‘But we always talked about (challenging for the title) — just not to the media! The manager didn’t put down a three-line party whip saying not to do it. It was just what happened.
‘It was always jumped upon when we spoke about it before. The headlines were always: “Aberdeen think they can win the title”.
‘So we were private about it and the mindset has always been to take one game at a time.
‘I think now, though, it’s not such a big deal. The way we are viewed has changed. Before it was almost a case of: “Who do they think they are?”
‘But now it’s less sensational because we have been there and challenged. I think people see it as more normal now for Aberdeen to be up there. We have shown we’re a good team and capable of being up there in the top positions.
‘Over the last two years, we proved we can sustain a challenge for the majority of the season, even though we ultimately fell short. I think we’ve got a bit better every year.’
With Celtic appointing Brendan Rodgers as manager and banking a minimum £22million from the Champions League, the financial chasm between the two clubs is stark.
Reynolds, however, cites Leicester City winning the Premier League in England last season as proof an underdog can have its day.
Aberdeen’s squad will also aim to harness the hurt of falling away in the final weeks of each of the last two seasons.
‘As we saw with Leicester, you never know what can happen,’ added Reynolds. ‘We aim to be up there at the end of the season because it’s a massive prize.
‘Leicester’s achievement was great for us to see because it showed what can be done. Celtic are still a massive team and they will take a lot of beating, but we will be trying.
‘We have fallen away at the tail end of the campaign in the last two years, so that’s something we need to learn from. We fell short last season, so we need to step it up further — and that’s what keeps us pushing on.’
“I think that we have got better every year”