After becoming just the fifth Aberdeen manager to lead the Dons to the Scottish Cup, Jimmy Thelin spoke to the press.

“What can I say, I’m happy, relieved, tired, and I’m going to enjoy this evening! I have quite a lot of emotions now I have to say. I’m so proud because my family is back in Sweden, my wife and my kids, and they have allowed me to do this journey and they have been so supportive all the time, and so it’s an amazing day and an amazing evening in front of us. My brother was here and I’ve already called my parents, my wife’s parents – everybody was in our house and watched the game together, and they were so happy.

“All this week, we have tried to visualize how to win this game, and create this belief inside the squad. Celtic is a really good team, Brendan is a really amazing manager, but the way our players compete today out there, how they defend together, they had cramp, they were tired, but they keep believing, and I’m so proud how they also used the energy from our supporters who travel down here today. When it was so tight, they tried to take the extra step for each other and then they were so strong in the penalties also.

“After the Dundee United game, we gave the players two rest days because it was a tough ending of the league season. Then we tried to find a way to create some belief together with the players and have everybody buy into the plan and stick to the plan. They were so mature today in the tactical discipline the whole game, and never stopped believing. That’s why I’m so proud because it’s not easy when you have played against Celtic a few days before and lose 5-1. It’s not easy, but it says a lot about the character in the team today.

“I think you have to be allowed to dream big, I think that’s important. We had some goals this year, to go into Europe and then be in a semi-final or maybe a final. But when we actually arrived to the final it’s a different scenario, it’s that one game. We knew if we can stay in the game today and keep it alive then a chance, opportunity, they will always come in some way.

“When you’re in a final everything can happen and that’s why we tried to create this atmosphere this week, people around the club supported us and created this belief inside, some people sent some videos, everybody was contributing to this victory today. Then you see the fans, they have travelled with us the whole season and it’s so nice to end the season in this way. To have 20,000 fans here, and all the people that couldn’t get here, I’m so happy that we can celebrate now together and be so proud of Aberdeen Football Club.

“When you go through this and you win, you have to use this in the future. The league is so important to try to reach Europe every year, to get used to playing so many games, play in four competitions every season and be stronger. The only way to do it is to live it and when you win you can take a lot of confidence. I think so many players today grow a lot, they get the feeling that they can do it and it’s going to help them in the future.

“Analysing the season now is not easy I have to say, there’s a lot of emotions, but I think the support we get from Dave Cormack and the board and Alan Burrows and Stephen Gunn and all the staff around Pittodrie and Cormack Park in some struggling times is important. The belief has never dropped, that’s the key, that we never stop believing and keep pushing for something and try to be better all the time. Sometimes the pressure arrives because you’re not winning for a while but we always find a way back in the season, so I’m just proud right now about what we have achieved today.

“Every player has their skills and strengths and it was a tough game. Every player played their part. We know that we’re going to run a lot without the ball today and be really close to each other and defend really well. Then we bring on Pape, he has this power in the duels, Shayden has his speed, but it’s good to save something that they can add this to the game. They’re really good when they’re coming in and the game is a little bit more open and we have opportunities.

“Of course we have a game plan but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t work and today it worked amazingly, but it’s more about the players, how they manage this. How they built it up to go out with this energy and responsibility and belief, that’s what I’m most proud of.

“Then when it goes to penalties, Dimi has saved some penalties before and he’s so good in this situation, so mentally strong in this moment, but also the guys who took the penalties, they were really, really good penalties today, in the top corner. It is an amazing day!”