Aberdeen strained every sinew, but fell to an all-conquering Celtic at Hampden. Manager Derek McInnes is convinced his side’s two cup final appearances will not be the last on his watch.
The Dons have played second fiddle to the Hoops in all three competitions this season, with Saturday’s Scottish Cup final loss to Tom Rogic’s added-time goal the bitterest of pills to swallow following a fine Aberdeen showing.
McInnes, while disappointed, believes his players have shown they cup pedigree and expects to be back at Hampden next season.
He said: “This is Aberdeen now. We get to cup finals and believe we can win. Our performance here was miles ahead of where we were in the League Cup final in November and helped galvanise and give us extra confidence.
“We’re looking to get players in and I’m sure we’ll be back for more cup finals.
“I’ve said to the players who are leaving they would have thought winning a cup final or playing in one was for other teams. We feel this is our time now and we believed it was our day and our trophy.
“The players all believed they were going to win and there was no mindset of hoping we would win. We went out looking to earn it and that epitomised the attitude we have at the club.
“We have got good players here, we’re losing a few, but we’ll get more in and there is no reason why we can’t be confident of being back here.”
Rogic’s late winner was a cruel blow to the Dons but McInnes insisted his men can be proud following a committed showing at Hampden.
Aberdeen pushed Brendan Rodgers’ side all the way, but Celtic had that extra quality. McInnes said: “The players implemented exactly what we wanted as we ensured Celtic didn’t have any flow or rhythm. We scored off a set-play we had worked on thanks to a neat finish from Jonny Hayes, but I know we had to hang on longer than we did.
“We were loose and let Stuart Armstrong get his shot away.
“We needed to annoy Celtic, get after them and plant a seed of doubt and we did it. Once we got in front, against a team which had beaten us five times this season and bounced into Hampden with no doubt, we planted that seed and made them fear losing.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the players’ efforts, but it felt like two boxers slugging it out in the second half and Tom Rogic delivered a class punch with a magnificent piece of skill late in the game.
“Had we got the second goal I think we would have won the Scottish Cup.”
McInnes conceded fatigue took hold as his players struggled to maintain their pressing game, but believes there was no alternative approach possible from his side.
It was an energy-sapping effort from the Dons and Celtic eventually took advantage.
He said: “We tired by pressing but there is no other way.
“We had to try to keep the danger away from our box and press Celtic high. They looked weary at times and we got after them. We looked like team that could get a second goal by being brave and playing in the manner we did.
“If we had sat back then Celtic, with the players they have, would have swarmed over us.
“If we had given out a cup for effort and big hearts we would have won it, but class told. We had moments to score and win the game and there was no lack of effort
“We’ve got a tight squad but they have knocked their pan in since day one and it has been a great season.”
Bridging that gap remains the eternal challenge facing Aberdeen. Financially the Dons cannot get near the Hoops, but that will not stop McInnes from trying to challenge the Hoops.
He said: “My whole squad equates to £42,000 a week. I’m sure there are one or two Celtic players around that figure.
“For us to bridge the gap it is so difficult to find a player to make the difference in this type of game.
“The focus now falls on myself, the recruitment team and the board to bring in the reinforcements to make us confident we’ll continue to reach cup finals and win a trophy.
“We can bridge the gap in so many different aspects, with our organisation and bringing in a certain level of player, but unfortunately we can’t bridge the gap in terms of giving us more options and different types of players.”