Stefan: Dons can beat anyone
Even with 10 men, we kept them mostly away from big chances.
“I know it sounds stupid, but we felt like we were in control.
“We have seen in some of the games we have a good team. We played even games with Eintracht and PAOK in Europe and we won at Ibrox, so you know we have quality players.
“We haven’t had this kind of game, though, where we had to pull everything out of everybody.
We played just a few days ago and we have had a really tough programme. This is just a hardworking win that means a lot extra.
“Playing nice and beautiful is great, but this is something else.
“At one point in the second half, we were struggling and people were tired, but it shows the willpower that’s in the team. We can use that in future.”
The clean sheet will also come in useful according to the Dane, who added: “It’s an amazing feeling.
“We had been losing goals and it gets to you, so that clean sheet is so important. We have come far already and, as time goes by, we’ll be even better as I think we have a really strong defence.
“I think the personalities in the defence help. We love to defend. Blocking shots means as much as scoring a goal. I think we showed that.
“This was the kind of game I just love. These ones stay with you. Not just because of the magnitude, but because of the way we won it.”
Gartenmann was a Danish Cup winner with SonderjyskE three years ago. but he reckons the magnitude of the Hampden showpiece would make a Dons success far bigger for him.
The 26-year-old won over the Dons fans when he netted the opener in the 3-1 win at Ibrox back in September.
And he’s ready to tackle whoever is thrown their way at Hampden next month as Rangers prepare to take on Hearts in today’s second semi
Dons talisman Miovski again proved the difference as he kept his cool to slot home the winner with 12 minutes remaining.
But Gartenmann reckoned he could have had the game out of sight.
He said: “He could have scored a hat-trick!
“I had the feeling he would score when he went through.
“He tried to chip the keeper after his goal when he was full of confidence, but Nicky Devlin and I were talking and we’d have preferred if he’d smashed it.
“Working hard is not going to get you through if you don’t score goals, but that is what we h a v e got Bojan
for.”
Montgomery was fizzing when Vente got his toe to a loose ball ahead of Kelle Roos only for the keeper to upend him in his desperate attempt to gather.
MacKenzie ran after Lewis Miller to shove the Hibs man after 75 minutes when he was already on a booking.
But it was Aberdeen who got the spark from the red card when they played Hibs at their own game and Shinnie’s interception sent Miovski free on the left.
The big man has ice in his veins and blitzed into the box before slotting past Marshall to grab the glory.