‘Only Aberdeen can stop Celtic’s treble dreams’
Gothenburg Great Neale Cooper believes Pittodrie side can end decades of waiting
IT IS almost too much for the everyday Aberdeen supporter to bear, the recognition that no Pittodrie captain has laid hands on the Scottish Cup for 27 years.
It took a penalty shoot-out to beat Celtic that day, with Brian Irvine slotting home the last of the spot kicks to win the final and Aberdeen’s seventh Scottish Cup.
Neale Cooper, a Gothenburg Great, is of the opinion that the near threedecade breakthrough is imminent and that it is down to his former club to halt Celtic’s march towards the treble.
Brendan Rodgers’s men may be unstoppable in the Ladbrokes Premiership title race, and the Betfred League Cup is already in the Parkhead trophy cabinet courtesy of a runaway win over Aberdeen in last November’s final, but Cooper’s faith is unshakeable.
The Pittodrie side are in their best form of the season, he suggests, and have been further boosted by Jonny Hayes’ agreement to remain at the club until the summer of 2019.
“Aberdeen are the best-equipped team to stop Celtic winning the Scottish Cup,” he insisted. “If anyone can do it, it’s them. They are getting stronger to go for a final push.
“It would be really nice to get some silverware. They have had one chance and if I was an Aberdeen player who played in that League Cup final when Celtic beat them 3-0 I would be dying to do well in the Scottish Cup. They let people down, there is no denying that.”
Before Celtic come into view, however, there is the formidable hurdle of Ross County to overcome in the competition’s fifth round at Dingwall on Saturday.
Cooper, 53, retains fond memories of his six years as manager there, a spell that ended in 2002 following a glittering playing career with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen as well as with Aston Villa and Rangers.
“Ross County will be one of the hardest ties for the Dons,” he said. “If they get through this game then it will give them the momentum to continue.
“County are in good form and have a couple of players who can cause problems. They will be up for it after taking a point against Rangers last weekend. But this is a really tricky tie. They will be well motivated.”
But, with Cooper, it’s a case of “you can’t take Aberdeen out of the boy” and he is ready to admit that he hopes for a victory for the best outfit he’s seen at Pittodrie for many years.
The Hayes coup and the form of Niall McGinn make them the best of the rest behind Celtic, he proclaimed, their energy and pace making it difficult for most teams to endure.
“Brendan Rogers has done a great job at Celtic,” he said, “and you do wonder if anyone can beat them, but I think if anyone can it’s definitely Aberdeen. It would be massive if they do because even the management agreed that they didn’t turn up for the League Cup Final.
“I’m sure the manager and his assistant Tony Docherty will use that as motivation in the changing room saying that really wasn’t the real Aberdeen that let down so many people.
“Now they will want to go on a good run in the Scottish Cup and I think it would be a great achievement if they can win and stop Celtic winning the treble.
“I was fortunate to win the Scottish Cup four years out of five with Aberdeen. Dundee United knocked us out in the semi-final the other year when I was sent off.
“We had a great run at that time. I loved it and I can’t believe it was as long ago as 1990 since the club last lifted the trophy.”
The determination of manager Derek McInnes to retain the services of Hayes by rejecting a £600,000 January bid from Cardiff City and his efforts to encourage McGinn to follow his teammates’ lead and forget about moving on at the end of the season, could be a vital turning point for Aberdeen, as far as Cooper is concerned.
“I said a few months ago losing Hayes would have been a disaster and I meant it,” he added. “Who can replace Jonny Hayes? No one in Scotland. He is vital because not only can he play wide on the left, he is as good in the centre of midfield or even left back, as against Partick on Saturday.
“Jonny and Niall are the two exciting players at Aberdeen. They are match winners for Aberdeen.”