Aberdeen

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "We talked about it all week, we have to do it together with our fans.

"Everybody has to believe, and then anything can happen. We had to dream big in the final.

"The players fought so hard all week, and during the whole game, during extra time. There was cramp everywhere.

"You see how much it means to everyone.

"We took two days off after the last game against Dundee United and we tried to think 'what is the best way to win the final?'.

"We got with the players, we were super clear, everyone bought into it.

"Celtic are a really strong team, but we defended as a team today in the whole game. We were patient without the ball, we tried to find the transitions.

"Sometimes you need some luck, but the hard work was amazing from the players.

"Football is so amazing. You have to be strong in the difficult times, stick together, keep believing. We tried to put a smile on the face of the supporters, and we did today.

"We have a lot to look forward to."

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Aberdeen's cup-winning keeper Dimitar Mitov tells BBC Scotland: "No words.

"Everybody doubted that we could do it, but we knew with a good game plan, following instructions, working hard, we'd get a victory.

"We were outstanding today. Sometimes, penalties go to luck. We rode our luck. We are cup champions, nobody cares how we did it.

"He [Thelin] is the best manager I've ever worked with. On a day-to-day basis, how he manages us, how he trains us, the little details he puts in. He always said 'when we win the final'. There were no 'ifs'.

"That mentality went to the boys, and we believed it. Everyone said 'when not if'. That was the turning point today."

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Aberdeen captain Graham Shinnie tells BBC Scotland: "It means everything and I haven't been afraid to say it in interviews, this is what I've been desperate for.

"I didn't want my career to go on and not win silverware for this club.

"All that heartache to now be here is well worth it. Everyone wrote us off, you could maybe say rightly so, but we drilled the confidence into the team this week.

"It's sheer relief, knowing my family is up there. It's the best feeling in the world.

"I had a go at [Dimitar Mitov] as we were practicing penalties yesterday and he didn't save one, and I had a bit of a go at him. He was the hero today.

"It's my 300th appearance for the club, everything was just lining up.

"Just relief, sheer relief, knowing my family are up there. It's the best feeling in the world.

"Penalties, you'll take it if you win it, but you don't want to go through all that again. Four penalty takers, four goals. Unbelievable.

"We had to [change things]. We've been trying to play a certain style of play, and in some of the Old Firm games, they've killed us with the space we've given them.

"We came up with a plan, but you've still got to execute it, and we did that on the day.

"I could retire today and be a happy man."

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Willie Miller asked Jimmy Thelin. Every Aberdeen fan is asking Jimmy Thelin. Jimmy Thelin is probably even asking Jimmy Thelin.

'How are you going to beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup final?'

Most are in agreement something, tactically, has to change. Is it five at the back? Is it Jack MacKenzie at left-back in place of Graeme Shinnie? Is it pace up top?

All options the Aberdeen manager must be mulling over.

In the sides' previous meeting earlier this month, Celtic ran riot in a 5-1 win at Pittodrie. Midfielder Shinnie, 33, was again deployed at left-back - he has played the past eight games there - while MacKenzie has watched on from the bench.

"James Forrest absolutely terrorised Aberdeen at Pittodrie," said Scott McDermott, Sunday Mail chief football writer, on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I felt sorry for Shinnie at left-back He's played most of the season in central midfield, he's not got the legs to play at left-back any more and he really struggled against Forrest that night.

"Whether it's Forrest or Nicholas Kuhn that starts on the right for Celtic, if Shinnie's at left-back, then it's going to be an issue.

"I just wonder whether that's something Thelin will change going into the game.

"Something's got to give. They need a bit of luck. They need Celtic to have an off day, which is rare.

"I think we're clutching at straws here. I just don't see any other outcome."

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin tells Dons legend Willie Miller about his hopes of a famous Scottish Cup final victory over Celtic this weekend.

Follow the Scottish Cup final across BBC Sport, with live coverage on BBC One Scotland, Radio Scotland, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

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Pundits, players and managers have all been having their say in the build-up to Saturday's showpiece Scottish Cup final... but what are the fans saying to it?

BBC Scotland has been checking in with both camps...

Gary Scott of the ABZ Football Podcast

It's a monumental task Aberdeen have got on Saturday.

The statistics don't lie about how the season has gone and how our performances against Celtic have been so far.

I'm hoping that Jimmy Thelin has learned a lot from those previous performances, and from some more recent cup finals that have taken place in recent weeks.

It's a cup final at the end of the day and from our perspective all the pressure is on Celtic, they've got a treble to try and secure.

So, fingers crossed we can go out and cause a bit of a shock.

For me, Thelin's got to understand he can't be quite so open as he has been in recent games. In particular, the League Cup semi-final was a real drubbing and that seemed to really knock our confidence.

He can probably take some lessons, ironically, perhaps from how Ange Postecoglou set up his Spurs side against Man United midweek in the Europa League. Something like that is probably going to be our best opportunity at the weekend.

It's got to happen sometime, 1-0 Aberdeen.

Paul John Dykes of A Celtic State of Mind podcast

Brendan Rodgers was saying Celtic set out their goals at the beginning of the season - he's the manager that's normalised that level of success but we can never, ever take it for granted.

It's an incredible achievement if you get it, but there's a lot of hard work to be done.

We're going to respect Aberdeen in the cup final, no doubt about it.

It should play into the minds of the Aberdeen players, when you look at the fact this is the sixth time we've played this season.

It started off with the 2-2 draw, then the game up at Pittodrie with the one goal from Reo Hatate, but there have been a few bruising defeats for Aberdeen.

That can work two ways, it can get in the heads of the Aberdeen players or it might actually fuel their fire.

It's down to one game and I don't think it's going to be as open in terms of the scoreline this time around.

I'm going for a win but I think it'll be closer to a 2-1 than some of the results we've seen this season.

We asked for your views on who could be Aberdeen's hero in Saturday's Scottish Cup final against Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Alan: For me, there won't just be one hero if we win. It's down to the team as a whole. They need to work together and make Celtic work. Shayden Morris, Graeme Shinnie and Ante Palaversa will be instrumental in this but everyone in Aberdeen colours will have their part to play.

Steve: I am hoping Leighton Clarkson shines bright on Saturday. I just hope he can show the form he did when he arrived on loan from Liverpool. When we signed him permanently for the following season, he just failed to show that he was an undoubtedly talented footballer that we were all raving about. We all know that he's got the talent, and potential to be a big influencer in big games. Well they don't get much bigger than on Saturday against an exceptional team, but no one, or team is infallible. Come On You Reds!

Daniel: Dimitar Mitov. A string of sensational saves to keep it 0-0. Saves a penalty.

Andy: Earlier in the season some Dons fans thought that Jimmy Thelin could walk on water. Sticking with that theme, I think he should play a 5-4-1 formation and pray for a miracle.

Duncan: Clarkson with a pure filth free-kick.

Bill: Anything better than a 5-1 defeat will be reasonable. Even as a Dons fan I think Celtic will simply blow us away. A 2-0 loss would be great.

Chris: I think the in-form striker for Aberdeen is Kevin Nisbet, so he will attract attention from a very solid Celtic defence. This may leave space for someone else to nick a goal or two. As for who that might be it is hard to suggest and I'm not sure it really matters, the trick will be to get the goal/s. After that keeping the Celtic goal machine out, which is something we struggle to do.

Malky: We need a whole different approach to this game. We cannot rely on a similar approach and system that has failed so, so many times against Celtic. If we are to be successful and lift the trophy, we need absolutely everybody to be on their A game, but the likes of Clarkson, who can unlock defences and pick that pass, can also score from set-pieces and long range strikes. We need him at the very top of his game.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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With Saturday's final at Hampden fast approaching, BBC Scotland has flicked through the archives to look back on some classic Scottish Cup ties between Aberdeen and Celtic.

Here are three from recent memory to whet your appetite for the weekend...

Aberdeen 3-3 Celtic (5-6 pens) - Scottish Cup semi-final, April 2024

You only have to rewind a year to remind yourself of arguably the greatest cup encounter between these sides.

Following an incredible six-goal thriller, Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart went from zero to hero after hitting the woodwork with what would have been a match-winning moment, before decisively saving Killian Phillips' spot-kick in a dramatic shootout.

That drama was befitting of a classic match, with Aberdeen scoring two last-gasp equalisers.

With interim boss Peter Leven in charge, the Dons took a surprise lead after two minutes through Bojan Miovski.

Celtic fought back to go ahead when Nicolas Kuhn capitalised on Angus MacDonald's error before James Forrest curled in a second.

Ester Sokler's 90th-minute header forced extra time, and MacDonald made up for his mishap to force penalties with a header of his own in minute 119 after Matt O'Riley rocketed Celtic 3-2 up.

In the end, the Parkhead side prevailed on penalties to their 60th Scottish Cup final, where they defeated rivals Rangers back at Hampden.

Celtic 2-1 Aberdeen - Scottish Cup final, May 2017

A sore memory for any Dons fan, but a magical day for anyone of a Celtic persuasion.

With the 2017 final heading for extra time, the Glasgow side completed a domestic treble without losing a game when Tom Rogic fired in a stoppage-time winner in Brendan Rodgers' debut season in Scotland.

A neat Jonny Hayes strike after nine minutes rewarded the Dons' impressive start, but Celtic were level within two minutes as Stuart Armstrong was able to pick out the far corner.

Late Celtic pressure paid off in the dying seconds as Rogic fired low past goalkeeper Joe Lewis to spark wild scenes.

The post-match celebrations will be remembered for defender Kieran Tierney unexpectedly reappearing to lift the trophy after suffering a facial injury in the first half.

Tierney said on social media that the win was "worth a broken jaw".

Celtic 1-2 Aberdeen - Scottish Cup last 16, February 2014

A positive one to end on for Dons fans, revisiting their team's comeback win at Celtic Park in 2014.

Aberdeen had not won at Parkhead for six years and fell behind when Anthony Stokes netted a composed finish.

But Russell Anderson's leveller and Peter Pawlett's winner gave Derek McInnes' side a shock victory.

That win sent McInnes' men, who won the League Cup that season, into the quarters, but they were eliminated in the last four by St Johnstone.

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Graham Watson scored a sudden-death penalty when Aberdeen last won the Scottish Cup in 1990.

You'd be forgiven for thinking he is given a hero's welcome on his each and every return to Pittodrie. But that isn't the case.

"Unless they knew me, I don't think anybody would recognise me at Pittodrie now," Watson said.

"Some people will probably look at the cup final team picture and query 'who's that guy?'"

Among a star-studded side, the defender was an unlikely hero at 19 years old.

He was, reluctantly, tasked with lining up against against Republic of Ireland and Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner to keep his team alive in the shootout.

Flame-haired Watson came off the bench in extra time for just his fifth first-team appearance after making his debut less than a month previously and kept his cool amid the Hampden "bedlam" to make it 8-8.

The teenager's strike paved the way for Brian Irvine to score the winner after Anton Rogan's spot-kick was saved by Dons keeper Theo Snelders.

"I didn't even expect to be in the 13," 54-year-old Watson said, reflecting on his career-defining day 35 years on and ahead of Saturday's Hampden rematch between the teams.

He added: "Even when I was on the bench, I didn't think about going on the park. I felt like a spectator.

"When I did get on, I had a few involvements in the game and then it just kind of ran to penalties and I was thinking there's no way I would be part of any conversations for taking a penalty.

"It was just a major relief when I saw it going in. It would have been good to score the winner but it was still good to score one. It would have been a disaster if I'd missed."

The 1990 triumph would be the pinnacle of Watson's otherwise low-key career. He broke his leg in a friendly in Holland a few weeks later and missed the entire following season.

After 13 appearances in the 1991-92 campaign, he dropped back into the reserves and then left Pittodrie in 1994 and had spells with Clyde, Livingston and Forfar before embarking on a long career in the police.

"It was funny because I went up 10 years ago for the 25-year anniversary and some of the other players didn't even recognise me because obviously I'm bald now and have put on a bit of weight," said Watson.

"Some professionals play for 20 years or make 400 appearances for a team and don't win a cup final so for me to have 15-20 appearances for Aberdeen and get a cup winner's medal there, I feel pretty lucky."

As Aberdeen and Celtic prepare to play in Saturday's Scottish Cup final, watch highlights of the 2017 meeting between the pair when Tom Rogic struck late to give Celtic an unbeaten domestic treble.

Defender Mats Knoester reveals manager Jimmy Thelin was angry with the Aberdeen squad in the final weeks of the season as they slumped to fifth in the Scottish Premiership. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Dante Polvara is well aware Aberdeen have been written off by many as no-hopers in the Scottish Cup final.

He isn't bothered. In fact, the American midfielder is convinced the Dons can thrive on their underdog status against Celtic.

"In a weird way, it makes it a bit nicer knowing there's no pressure on you, right? So you can really go out there and go for it," Polvara told BBC Scotland.

"We obviously put pressure on ourselves, but outside of the city there's no real pressure, no expectation.

"That kind of gives us the licence and belief, like, okay, everyone's against us, and that lets you form a bit of a tighter-knit group and a real belief within.

"We do have the potential to prove people wrong. We've done it in big games before. We've upset teams in the past since I've been here.

"So you get it right on the day, you get some luck from the football gods, and you never know what could happen."

Polvara, 24, is no longer overawed by the prospect of heading to the national stadium with silverware at stake.

"It must be my fifth or sixth game at Hampden. At first it can be quite daunting," he added.

"It's obviously a different set-up than any of us are used to with 50-50 fans. The fans are quite far from the pitch and getting used to a new environment is sometimes tough.

"Compared to the first time, I'm in a much better place mentally to approach it just with less emotion and approach it in a more professional manner.

"I can't wait. It's a great way to end the season and it would be even better to have a parade through the city."

Seven different players have scored a combined 12 goals on Aberdeen's route to this season's Scottish Cup final.

But who could be the Dons' hero on Saturday if they are to upset the odds against treble-chasing Celtic and lift the trophy for the first time since 1990?

Oday Dabbagh, who netted the extra-time winner over Hearts in the semi, is Aberdeen's top scorer in the tournament with three goals, with Kevin Nisbet and departed Duk on two goals each.

Will Dabbagh repeat those heroics at the weekend? Could Nisbet inspire the side to a historic win? Or are you backing someone else to make themselves a legend?

Send us your thoughts

Aberdeen's first Scottish Cup final since 2017 is looming.

Can the Dons stun Celtic at Hampden on Saturday to crown Jimmy Thelin's first season in charge with a glorious triumph?

To get you in the mood, watch all the goals on the Reds' road to the final.

Follow the Scottish Cup final across BBC Sport, with live coverage on BBC One Scotland, Radio Scotland, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

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Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie is available for Saturday's Scottish Cup final against Celtic following the facial injury he sustained after being hit by a section of seating thrown at Tannadice.

MacKenzie, an unused substitute against Dundee United, was taken down the tunnel in a wheelchair after being caught on the face by the object, which came from a section housing Dons supporters.

A 31-year-old man has been charged with "acting in a culpable and reckless manner" in connection with the incident.

"Jack MacKenzie has trained on the pitch today, and he was okay," said manager Jimmy Thelin. "He is available for Saturday's game.

"We have a strong support network, good team-mates and good staff.

"Jack is a strong guy, he has been performing well in the sessions. We also try to look forwards and not back. We have been taking care of him and he is doing well."

Aberdeen will have around 20,000 fans at Hampden at the weekend and Thelin was quick to stress that the behaviour of one individual should not reflect badly on the wider support.

"No matter what you do in life, if it's football or something else, you have to feel safe in your job of course," he said.

"Incidents can happen, and it's not okay, but it can happen. But overall if you think about the big picture, all the support we've had this year from the Aberdeen football family, it has been an incredible experience for me to be involved with across the year, all the emotions from the season.

"Overall it is an amazing club with amazing supporters, so sometimes incidents can happen and it's not okay, and it could have been even worse, but if you look at the bigger picture it has been a good year in my opinion."

Saturday's match will be the first final of Thelin's managerial career, with Aberdeen aiming to win the cup for the first time in 35 years.

"We have a clear plan of what we're going to do," said the Swede.

"I think the Scottish Cup has a really big history, it's a big thing, and you can feel it already around the club and around the country. We are really excited for this moment, everyone."