Aberdeen defender Angus MacDonald is targeting Scottish Cup glory to turn the Dons’ season around.
The Dons will play out the post-split league matches in the Scottish Premiership in the bottom half of the division after failing to make the top six.
But with a trip to Hampden looming this weekend for a semi-final meeting with Celtic MacDonald believes his side can turn a disappointing campaign into a memorable one by lifting the cup for the first time since 1990.
He said: “We know what we are playing for and the fans will be right behind us. Hopefully we can go on and win it.
“If you get to the final and go on to win the cup then it turns out not to be a bad season.
“We haven’t finished where we want to be in the top half of the table as the top three or four was the aim this season.
“But we’ve had a long season and played some massive games and we will do all we can to get to a cup final.”
European hopes hinge on cup success
Aberdeen have more than winning silverware at stake with the club’s hopes of competing in Europe again next summer hingeing on them going all the way in the competition.
It’s win-or-bust for the Dons as they prepare to face the Hoops at the National Stadium.
But having held the league champions to a 1-1 draw when the sides last met at Pittodrie MacDonald believes his side can head to Glasgow with confidence.
He said: “It’s nice to lift the trophy but it’s also nice to know what would come from that as well.
“We take confidence from the draw against them here the last time and will go with a game plan.
“If we win the cup, finish as high as we can then we can say it’s not been as bad a season given some of the tough games we’ve played.”
MacDonald has the added impetus of playing at Hampden for the first time after not being involved in the League Cup semi-final or final earlier in the campaign.
He said: “It’s a massive bonus to have a fully fit squad but hopefully I can do everything I can to keep my place.”
MacDonald disappointed to miss out on top six place
It was hard to shake thoughts of what might have been for the Aberdeen players as they watched opponents Dundee celebrate securing a top-six berth at Pittodrie on Saturday.
The point gained in the goalless draw was enough for Tony Docherty’s side to pip Hibernian and Motherwell to a top-half spot.
MacDonald said: “It’s a massive achievement for them coming in as a newly promoted club.
“They were playing out of their skins to try to get top six.
“It’s disappointing that we aren’t the ones who were fighting to be in there.
“But we will do everything we can to finish as high as we can, get into a cup final then push on to next season.”
Aberdeen ended the 33-game section by playing out a game of few chances at Pittodrie.
But central defender MacDonald believes there were positives to be taken from the game ahead of the cup semi-final.
He said: “We take the positives from what was a game of two halves but we didn’t lose which is important.
“We are keeping clean sheets now which is something we weren’t doing a couple of months ago.
“It’s massive as we know what we’re up against so keeping a clean sheet in any game gives you a chance to win.
“That’s hopefully what we are going to try and do. The confidence and belief is there in the dressing room.”
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