Aberdeen

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We all knew Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie would miss out through suspension and his absence is the only change from last weekend's 0-0 draw with Dundee.

Dante Polvara comes into Peter Leven's midfield, while centre-half Angus MacDonald takes the armband in Shinnie's absence.

The stand-in skipper caught up with BBC Scotland pre-match.

"We've come with a gameplan and we're going to stick with it. It's a massive game for us - anything can happen in the cup," he said.

"We've looked at that, we've looked at videos and done all our analysis and we're going to cause them the same problems that hopefully we've done in the past."MacDonald says the team haven't heard yet from Jimmy Thelin, who will take over as manager this summer, but that news of the appointment had been a pre-match boost.

"It's probably given the fans a lift more than anything - we've got to concentrate on the job we've got in hand," he adds.

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Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Barron, Polvara, McGrath, Clarkson, Duk, Miovski.

Substitutes: Doohan, Jensen, Phillips, Sokler, Morris, Duncan, Milne, Hoilett, Rubezic.

Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, O'Riley, McGregor, Hatate, Kuhn, Kyogo, Yang.

Substitutes: Bain, Palma, Idah, Nawrocki, Tomoki, Bernardo, Kelly, Forrest, Ralston.

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Bojan Miovski has been picked as one of the 11 players of the season in the PFA Scotland's Premiership team of the year.

The in-form North Macedonian has bagged 23 goals across all competitions for the Dons this season.

The PFA Scotland team of the year is voted for by players.

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We've got you covered as Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers' perfect Scottish Cup record is put to the test against Peter Leven's Aberdeen on Saturday.

The semi-final will be shown live on BBC One Scotland - with coverage starting at 12:00 BST - as well as the BBC Sport website, app and iPlayer.

There's also commentary on BBC Radio Scotland, plus online live text coverage, with build-up, reaction, analysis and highlights.

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Aberdeen caretaker manager Peter Leven insists his side can rise to the "huge" challenge of facing Celtic and book their place in a second cup final this season.

The Dons were League Cup runners-up to Rangers in December and are now eyeing progress against Scottish Cup holders Celtic in Saturday's semi-final.

"It is huge, but we are Aberdeen, we want to be competing in the latter stages of competitions," said Leven.

"Two cup finals this year would be amazing but you are playing a team on form just now so it is going to be difficult.

"I've said to the the players this is a great opportunity and one that we are hopefully going to take.

"We are on a bit of form as well, we have only conceded two goals in five games. The last time (we played Celtic) was at home and it was 1-1 and in the second half we really had a good go at them, so we need to have that belief and trust what we are trying to do and get the result."

Aberdeen will have to do without suspended skipper Graeme Shinnie at Hampden.

"It is a big blow losing your captain, but Shinnie will still be there, he will be round about the boys in the changing room," added Leven.

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Aberdeen players must prove they are "playing for their future" in Saturday's Scottish Cup semi-final, says former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan.

The appointment of Jimmy Thelin this week is a boost to the Pittodrie side, according to the current Queen's Park forward.

However, he believes the Dons head to Hampden as considerable underdogs when they meet Celtic live on BBC One Scotland.

"If you're an Aberdeen player just now, they've obviously got their new manager in place for next season," Sheridan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"You've got a point to prove you're playing for your future. It is a boost for them having a manager in place.

"But I just can't see past Celtic. They know how to do the job. Brendan Rodgers comes out and says 'this is when Celtic come alive'. I thought I was very clever when he came out and said that statement.

"They've got players that have done it before at Hampden as well, so I can't see past Celtic."

Image source, Lewis Ferguson

Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson says his knee operation was a success.

The Bologna captain's involvement in Euro 2024 this summer is in doubt after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Monza.

The former Aberdeen midfielder posted a picture on Instagram of himself with team-mates Sam Beukema and Dan Ndoye from his hospital bed after his surgery.

"Successful op and these guys in to give me a laugh," the 24-year-old wrote.

Ferguson has been a regular in Steve Clarke's squad over the past year.

"Devastated with today's news but that's life. I will do everything to come back better and stronger than before," he said last week.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kelle Roos says it shouldn't take the appointment of a new manager to fire Aberdeen up for their Scottish Cup semi-final.

The Dons face Celtic at Hampden on Saturday - live on BBC One Scotland at 12:30 BST - and Jimmy Thelin will be watching from afar as the Elfsborg boss prepares to take the Pittodrie reins in June.

"For me nothing changes," said goalkeeper Roos.

"Some people might say ‘Oh yeah, the players are going to put more effort in because they know there is a new manager and he might be watching.’

"If that is what drives you as a player, you are doing something drastically wrong so that is definitely not the case for me. I will be doing all the same things I have been doing and we will go from there."

Roos is already clued up on Thelin's methods and wasn't surprised when the club announced the 46-year-old will be swapping Sweden for Scotland.

"I had a bit of a gut feeling from quite a while away it was going to be him eventually so I did a little bit of homework, to see what he is like," he added.

Whether Roos will still be around at Pittodrie when Thelin arrives is up in the air. The 31-year-old Dutchman is out of contract this summer and has "no update" to offer on his future.

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• The 1-1 draw between the sides on 3 February was the first time Aberdeen had avoided defeat against Celtic since 21 April 2021, when they also drew 1-1.

• Daizen Maeda is Celtic's top scorer in the Scottish Cup this season with four goals, but is unlikely to feature on Saturday due to a hamstring injury.

• Bojan Miovski is Aberdeen's top scorer in the Scottish Cup this season with three goals.

• The last time these sides met at Hampden was the 2018-19 League Cup final when Ryan Christie's goal helped Brendan Rodgers' side to the trophy.

Aberdeen head to Hampden Park on Saturday to face Celtic in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

What changes would you like to see Peter Leven make as the Dons look to keep their hopes of silverware alive?

Choose your Aberdeen XI for the big game here.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland

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Aberdeen caretaker boss Peter Leven says he will be in regular contact with incoming manager Jimmy Thelin between now and the end of the season.

On Tuesday it was confirmed Thelin, who is currently in charge of Swedish side Elfsborg, will be taking the helm at Pittodrie in June.

Leven, who will form part of Thelin's coaching staff, says knowing the new man will be watching will give the team "that little bit extra to play for" when they face Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

"We have got to respect Elfsborg, he is still the manager there," Leven added. "But I just said to him, 'whatever you need, training videos, a bit of insight, players'.

"The players know who is watching them now, for either contracts or staying at the club, so hopefully that will lift everybody.

"If we can win on Saturday that is another cup final this season, so [Thelin] is inheriting a talented group, but he will obviously have an eye on the games coming up and being in regular contact with myself."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

Aberdeen caretaker boss Peter Leven has been speaking to the media in the build-up to Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic at Hampden.

Here are the key points:

• Leven welcomed the appointment of Jimmy Thelin as incoming manager, saying "it is good news all round" and he is "delighted" to be part of his coaching team.

• On the appointment ending the uncertainty of recent weeks, he says: "I think the fans and obviously the players, in and out of contract, needed to know who is going to be the new manager so clarity is the right word and hopefully we can just focus on the rest of the season."

• Leven spoke to Thelin for the first time on Tuesday night - telling him he's on hand for "whatever you need" - and they will be in regular contact over the coming weeks.

• The semi-final is a great opportunity for Aberdeen to get to a second final this season and they are "going down to win the game".

• The absence of skipper Graeme Shinnie through suspension is a "big blow". Everybody else, including Slobodan Rubezic, is fit.

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Liam McLeod
BBC Scotland commentator

Seventy seven days after sacking Barry Robson, we now know who will take the reins at Aberdeen.

Had it not been for Robson’s seven-match winning streak 12 months ago ago, Jimmy Thelin may already be a year into the job at Pittodrie as Dave Cormack’s patience finally paid off.

Thelin is an appointment that has excited Dons supporters and the Swede’s recent career has certainly been on an upward trajectory, missing out on the Swedish title on the last day in 2023 with Elfsborg. He is scheduled to arrive in June.

The new boss will, I’m sure, be watching Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final from home with huge interest with his new employers facing holders Celtic for a place in next month’s showpiece.

Much is made about the European prize on offer for winning the tournament, but it is 34 years since Aberdeen lifted the old trophy.

They had won it five times in nine seasons when captain Alex McLeish got his hands on it in 1990. That was the first Scottish Cup final settled by a penalty shootout and remains the last time the Dons defeated Celtic in the tournament at Hampden. The last success over the Glasgow side at the national stadium was in the League Cup semis two years later.

The task is a huge one. Celtic have clicked into gear in recent weeks and the return of Reo Hatate has made a massive difference to the energy of the side. With skipper Callum McGregor a certain starter after injury, Cameron Carter-Vickers back at full fitness and Matt O’Riley rediscovering his first half of the season form, the Dons are big underdogs.

However, they are due a win over the Scottish champions, if there is such a thing. They haven’t beaten them in 24 matches, a record winless sequence in the fixture. Indeed, they’ve only tasted victory once in 35 meetings.

Peter Leven has brought a bit of stability to the team and despite a couple of unimpressive performances against Livingston and Dundee they are unbeaten in four while keeping three clean sheets.

And in what has been a dire season in many ways for Dons fans, the hope may come from their big-game displays, including their last game against Celtic at Pittodrie in the first match post-Robson. Aberdeen have generally performed better against teams who attack them, winning at Ibrox, drawing at PAOK and beating Eintracht Frankfurt while impressing in defeat in Germany.

There are plenty in the media and in the west of Scotland who are hoping for, and perhaps expecting, a first Old Firm Scottish Cup final since 2002. With Thelin watching from afar, the Dons will need their performance of the season to ensure Celtic don’t make it that far.

Perhaps a low expectation level will suit them.

Aberdeen chief executive Alan Burrows believes the Dons have found the real deal in new boss Jimmy Thelin, who has "improved his teams almost season on season". (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

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Jimmy Thelin believes he has found a "perfect match" with Aberdeen as he set out his vision for a Pittodrie revival.

The Swede, 46, will take over as Dons boss in the summer, midway through the season with current club Elfsborg.

In an interview with RedTV, he explained the arrangement gives him a "respectful exit" before he turns his focus on Aberdeen.

"The feelings I have got from Aberdeen, the fans and the support from Dave (Cormack), Alan (Burrows) and Steven (Gunn) made it feel like a good opportunity," he said.

"I also like the intensity of the league and speed of the game.

"I always like to search what a club is looking for. I need to believe in it and for them to believe in me so we can do it together and go in the same direction.

"I really feel like this is a perfect match."

Asked about his style of play, he replied: "The main idea is to have an attacking philosophy that the fans will see on the pitch and the players will live it.

"It's quite intense, quite direct.

"We always do everything together. We defend as a block, we work really hard and have a clear direction for creating scoring chances."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

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There is a feeling from some in Sweden that Jimmy Thelin's move to Aberdeen isn't a big enough leap in his managerial career.

That's according to Swedish football podcaster Glenn Holvik, who told BBC Scotland the 46-year-old's experience with Elfsborg should translate well to Pittodrie.

"I think this is a good step, a lot of people in Sweden say this step could be too small, that he should take a bigger step," he said.

"Aberdeen met BK Hacken from Sweden last year [in the Europa League play-off] and BK Hacken won. For a lot of supporters, they feel this step is too small.

‘I think it is really smart for him to take this step and also the [Aberdeen] supporters should be excited but they need to have patience.

"I think the first year will be about Jimmy seeing what is happening with the club , he will need two or three transfer windows to get the right players.

"In Sweden, Elfsborg is a small town club that has challenged the big city clubs. I always said that the Scottish Elfsborg is Hearts.

"Now, when I think about it, maybe that is Aberdeen, so it could be a great match."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

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Aberdeen fans will require "patience" to allow Jimmy Thelin to find success at the club, says The Gothenburg Post's Elfsborg reporter Joel Besseling.

Although the 46-year-old may need time to build at Pittodrie, Besseling believes the club have got themselves a "bargain" with the Swede's appointment.

"There has been six years since he came to Elfsborg and they really struggled the first couple of years," he told BBC Scotland.

"He is a different manager now than he was then, but if you compare it, I think they [Aberdeen fans] should have patience.

"He is not the kind of guy that you bring in in March to save you from relegation. He is not that kind of manager, totally the opposite.

"I think if you have patience he is going to build something that they can cheer about in a year or two, but if they don’t have patience, if the club don’t have patience, I think he is going to be gone - not quickly - but I think he is going to need some time to build this.

"But if they have that, they should be really excited because he was a candidate for the Swedish national team this winter.

"I think that is a bargain for a club like Aberdeen to get that kind of manager."