Derek McInnes says there is little chance any of his players will be guilty of believing the hype about Aberdeen after their recent cup exploits.
The Dons are through to the final of the League Cup for the first time since 2000 and are in the last eight of the Scottish Cup after eliminating holders Celtic.
As a result McInnes’s Reds are favourites to win both competitions but he expects his players to put cup football on the backburner and focus on the task of trying to finish second in the Premiership.
He said: “We’re really pleased with the progress we have made in cups but there has to be total concentration and focus on the league campaign now. For us to achieve what we want we cannot let the cup take over.
“The players are always motivated to play but it certainly doesn’t do any harm having big cup games to look forward to.
“They are desperate to play their part and be involved, and that has shown with some decent performances. But we need more over the next two-and-a-half months if we are to achieve what we want to.”
Aberdeen travel to St Mirren today with the glare of the television cameras falling on them for the second week in a row in the lunchtime kick-off. The Buddies held the Dons to a 1-1 draw at St Mirren Park and McInnes expects another tough examination for his players.
He said: “We have to maintain the motivation we’ve had in recent games. We have had a lot of good press on the back of some results. But that’s for everyone else, that’s not for the players or myself.
“When you lose focus and let things outwith affect you it comes back to slap you on the face.
“I said at the start of the season what we had to do was make sure when teams play Aberdeen they know they’re in for a game.
“I think this weekend St Mirren will know that but they’ll also want to make sure we know it’s a game against them. They will be looking to finish the season strongly.”
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