More than 40,000 Aberdeen supporters painted Parkhead red in last season’s League Cup final but Dons forward Adam Rooney believes the incredible demand for tickets 12 months ago will be surpassed if his club can defeat Dundee United in tomorrow’s semi-final.
Rooney was the hero for the Dons after netting the winning penalty against his former side Caley Thistle in last season’s showpiece final at Parkhead.
The Irishman’s spot-kick gave Aberdeen their first silverware for 19 years. Now Derek McInnes’ team is only 90 minutes away from having the chance to defend its trophy against either Celtic or Rangers at Hampden on March 15.
It is likely the New Firm representative in the final will receive only 20,000 tickets for the final, but Rooney reckons his club could sell many times that figure.
He said: “We could probably have double the amount of supporters that went to Parkhead if we got to the final again.
“We could have sold even more tickets for the final last year and it would be great to give the supporters another occasion like that to look forward to.
“However, we have to make sure we don’t get carried away as we have a tough game coming up against Dundee United.
“The whole experience of winning the cup last year was incredible and it is a massive incentive for us to try to repeat something like that.
“We want to do well in every competition and win every game, but this is certainly one we are all looking forward to.”
Rooney has already netted four times in this season’s competition with a hat-trick in the 4-0 win against Livingston in the third round before netting the winner in the 1-0 quarter-final victory against Hamilton Accies.
The Dubliner has been in prolific goalscoring form this season and a key member of the Dons squad which has played themselves into contention at the top of the Scottish Premiership and made the final four of the League Cup.
The 26-year-old feels he is in the best form of his career.
He said: “I am always confident that if I get chances I will stick them away.
“At the minute we have got some very creative players in the team and it is great to be involved.
“If I am getting the right service then I am always likely to get on the end of it.”
Rooney has developed a partnership with David Goodwillie since his arrival at Pittodrie last summer.
The goals have proven to be harder to come by for Goodwillie than Rooney but the Irishman says the work the former Dundee United player does for the team should not be underestimated.
He added: “Ever since we first played together we have had a good understanding.
“We look for each other on the pitch.
“We both want to score goals so we know where we want to put the ball for each other.
“We have a good understanding but I think all of the front six in the team have developed a good understanding.
“Even when our full backs push forward in attack we look very fluid and the players interchange well.
“It is important we keep working on that in training and keep building on it.”