- Jimmy Thelin has to flick a psychological switch in side who have shipped 19 goals to Brendan Rodgers’ side in five meetings
- Tactical masterclass that saw Dons fight back to draw 2-2 at Parkhead last October has to be revived
- Shayden Morris and Topi Keskinen need to constantly trouble Celtic defence by running at them on big Hampden pitch
To stand a chance of becoming the first Aberdeen manager in 35 years to lift the Scottish Cup, Jimmy Thelin first must flick a psychological switch in his squad.
The Dons haven’t beaten Celtic in all competitions in 30 matches. That dismal run includes just six draws and some serious hidings.
This season alone, they’ve shipped 19 goals to Brendan Rodgers men in five meetings.
Skipper Graeme Shinnie is the only survivor from the side which last won at Parkhead in May 2018 to tie up second place in the Premiership.
So, the Swede has a lot of mental scar tissue to contend with and a deficit of positive memories to fall back on.
Is it possible for a squad to forget what’s happened in the past and focus solely on creating history?
Graeme Shinnie equalised against Celtic in 2-2 draw at Parkhead last October and Dons need a simllar gutsy performance at Hampden
Jimmy Thelin will need to flick a psychological switch in his players if they are to emerge as Scottish Cup winners
Dons need to forget the 5-1 defeat at Pittodrie this month which saw Johnny Kenny nod home Celtic’s fourth goal
If Thelin’s players can do so and walk onto the field as equals, then they’ll have a fighting chance.
There is, though, one recent episode which they might want to dwell on and use as a tactical template.
Two goals down at half-time at Celtic Park back in October, the Dons not only won the second half but did so convincingly to earn a draw which maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
The key to the turnaround that day was pace in transitions. The willingness of Thelin’s midfielders to file back behind the ball first prevented Celtic adding to their tally. Their desire to then bound forward in numbers and supplement the attacking options overwhelmed the home side.
In sharp contrast to the endless ‘sideways, backwards, sideways’ sequences of play we witnessed in the recent 5-1 home loss, in that second period the Dons broke with pace, directness and a clear plan to trouble Kasper Schmeichel as quickly as possible.
Jamie McGrath’s pass which allowed Ester Sokler to half the arrears was the perfect case in point.
In Shayden Morris and Topi Keskinen, Aberdeen possess wide players who can trouble any defence if they get a run at them.
Thelin will ponder whether to bring Shinnie back into central midfield from left-back. If he doesn’t, then Leighton Clarkson and Ante Palaversa will likely be his two holders. Their roles will be to screen the defence when Celtic have the ball and pass it forward quickly when their side win it back.
Skipper Shinnie, who led the fightback at Celtic Park last October, will be a key man at the national stadium
Thelin needs to get the better of a manager whose team have scored 19 goals against the Dons in five meetings this season
Rodgers ‘ team were held 2-2 after a Thelin tactical masterclass at Celtic Park last October
While going toe-to-toe with a Celtic side that finished 39 points ahead of them in the Premiership would be crazy, slick counter-attacking football can take you a long way.
In the second half at Parkhead that afternoon, Rodgers’ side had 84 per cent of the possession, managed four shots on target yet didn’t score.
With just 16 per cent of the ball, Aberdeen troubled Schmeichel twice and scored on both occasions.
It’s not necessarily how much you see of the football. It’s what you do with it.
Thelin also needs his back line to defend like their lives. There might well be no survivors from the four who played in the 2-2 draw. If Alfie Dorrington and Mats Knoester are collectively as weak as they were in the home loss 10 days ago then Celtic’s front three will have another field day. They need to be a lot tougher.
Despite the disparity in resources, the Swede has enough at his disposal to make life awkward for Rodgers.
To actually win the trophy, he’ll require a complete buy-in into his game plan, the perfect execution and probably a little luck. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility.
