Getting to Hampden Park remains as big a motivation as ever for Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.
While the future of Hampden is up for discussion with the Scottish FA as the home of the national team, McInnes still sees it as the home of Scottish football.
A win against Kilmarnock in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup quarter-final, weather-permitting, will give them a fifth visit to Mount Florida in two seasons.
McInnes has guided the Dons to three cup finals in his five-year tenure at Pittodrie, winning the League Cup in 2014 against Caley Thistle and missing out twice against Celtic last year.
The SFA’s lease on Hampden runs out in 2020 and BT Murrayfield has been mooted as a potential destination for Scottish football but to McInnes, the status quo remains his favourite option.
He said: “I’m a fan of Hampden and while it could be better, in terms of atmosphere compared to the old ground, it’s the home of football. We should try make it better and get it to where we want it to be for international matches.
“There’s a chance to bring silverware to Aberdeen and we’re one game away from Hampden. That’s a motivation.”
Despite the Dons’ midweek game against Motherwell falling victim to the storm conditions affecting Scotland, the club are preparing for tomorrow’s Pittodrie tie to go ahead.
McInnes watched Killie’s 1-1 draw with Hearts on Tuesday night and felt they deserved to come away with a point. But he is also keenly aware of his own side’s aspirations in the country’s premier cup competition.
McInnes said: “There’s a hunger in the team to be successful. As well as the feel-good factor and momentum you get from a cup run, there’s financial rewards for the club as you work through the rounds.
“We’ve got to three cup finals in my time here and we have aspirations to go all the way again this year. We have to deal with Kilmarnock first and hopefully we’ve got enough to do that.”
The League Cup win has been their sole piece of silverware since 1996, with Aberdeen’s last Scottish Cup triumph coming in 1990.
McInnes added: “Our league form has been really good and consistent over the last few years – the efforts of the players have been recognised for that. But a season can be defined by your cup performances and we want to do as well as we can.”