Caley Thistle captain Richie Foran is happy to cope with the expectation of being favourites for Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final against Dundee United.
Inverness knocked the Tayside club out of the League Cup quarter-finals after extra time in a dramatic and controversial tie last October. United’s Turkish forward Nadir Ciftci was sent off after a heated exchange with an assortment of Caley Jags players and officials as the home side won with a late Ross Draper header.
Foran knows Jackie McNamara’s side will attempt to exact retribution but is undaunted. He said: “United will be looking for revenge but, hopefully, the referee will be strong.
“I would not like to talk about any other team. I am just looking forward to the game. We want to get to another final and we will probably be favourites in the quarter-final at home.
“It gives us an advantage as we have already beaten them in the other quarter-final in the cup.”
This campaign will be remembered as one of the best in Caley Thistle’s history after the club reached a first major final. Europa League qualification is also a target, with the Highlanders in fifth place in the table with a game in hand on their rivals.
Foran is not prepared to relax as Caley Jags prepare for their big day out against Aberdeen at Parkhead on Sunday week. The 33-year-old will make demands of his team-mates, starting against United.
He added: “It has been a great season but we don’t want to settle for one cup final. We are always striving for better.
“We can’t be happy with where we are, we want more.
“If we get to the end of the season and we have finished in the top six and got to a cup final it will have been a fantastic season.
“Right now, though, we think we can do more, whether it happens or not I don’t know, but we have to think like that.”