Hartley can only marvel as Dons hit new heights
IF Aberdeen lose at Dens Park on Friday night then Celtic will be crowned champions almost a fortnight since last kicking a ball at the same venue. Yet if the end to the Dons’ nominal title challenge is to be made official at this unfeasibly early date, Dundee manager Paul Hartley believes his counterpart Derek McInnes need feel no shame.
Aberdeen may have been left trailing by the Parkhead juggernaut this term but, in Hartley’s eyes, they have been a markedly stronger proposition than the Dons sides he has faced over the past three seasons.
And, although there has been no repeat of the title challenge posed to Ronny Deila’s unconvincing Celtic team over the past couple of years, he believes McInnes has succeeded in continuing year-on-year improvement at Pittodrie.
The 25-point gap that exists between Aberdeen and the champions-elect may seem like a chasm but Hartley believes some context is needed.
‘I think Aberdeen have been better this season,’ he contends. ‘Celtic have gone to a totally different level under Brendan Rodgers, so it’s a bit unfair to use that as a yardstick.
‘To me, Aberdeen look much stronger all over the park. They have recruited well.
‘The goalkeeper Joe Lewis has been excellent and bringing him in has definitely brought some real improvement to the team.
‘But, for me, the biggest measure you can make is to look at Ryan Christie. They got him in from Celtic and everyone thought it was a great signing. It was a great signing but he can’t get in the team.
‘They have been so solid and consistent that Derek has not needed to change it and that speaks volumes. Every other team in the league would love to have that kind of quality in reserve.’
With millions in Champions League revenue banked, Celtic have the funds which will allow Rodgers to invest further in his squad for next season. Yet, while there is scope for Celtic to improve further in terms of quality, there is less room for growth in terms of domestic results.
While the Parkhead side have failed to win on just two occasions en route to a sixth consecutive title, Aberdeen have also shown an impressive level of consistency, one that sees them sit eight points ahead of third-placed Rangers with a far superior goal difference.
Hartley puts that down to mental strength.
He continued: ‘I’ve seen a lot of Aberdeen this season and they always impress me. They have real pace in the team and are very dynamic. They have probably had a settled team for months and that has fed into their results.
‘They have been really consistent and their form of late has been terrific. They also score late goals. They are fit and they play with that tempo and energy right to the end.
‘They don’t know when they’re beaten and you can’t switch off for a
second against them.’
All of which is bad news for Hartley’s own team as they seek the dual comfort of a top-six place and safety from relegation. Dundee sit four points shy of Partick Thistle in sixth spot and time is running out before the league splits.
‘Obviously this game could have consequences for Celtic as well as Aberdeen but we’re not paying any attention to that,’ stated the 40-year-old, who played for both Celtic and Aberdeen during his own playing career. ‘This is an important game for us, one that could have a big impact on our season.
‘I reckon we need three wins from four games to make the top six and this is the first opportunity. We have been good against the top four teams this season, so hopefully that will continue.’
As if to prove the point, Dundee made what had been shaping up as a routine victory for Rodgers’ team an altogether more uncomfortable experience thanks to Faissal ElBakhtaoui’s spectacular strike with 15 minutes remaining of last Sunday’s game. Hartley would like to see those moments arrive with greater regularity but believes his squad — which suffered the hammer-blow of losing top scorers Greg Stewart and Kane Hemmings last August — remains a work in progress. ‘If I’m being honest, I don’t think we have been consistent enough this season and at no point have we given ourselves an opportunity to relax,’ he admitted. ‘One week we’ll be looking up the table at where we want to finish and the next we’re peering back over our shoulders in case we get dragged back down. ‘But this is only our third year in the division. There are going to be times when your form dips but the challenge for us is to make that happen less often. ‘Aberdeen have greater resources but they do set a good example for the rest of the league. If you look at it, Derek has spent an awful lot of money but he has got value from the investment he has made. ‘He knows the type of player and type of character that fits with his squad and he recruits well.’
They always impress me. They have real pace in the team and are dynamic