The Manager, Mark and Jamie and RedTV
“We are delighted to be involved in a Scottish Cup Semi Final. It is a game we are really looking forward to. We have as good a chance as St Johnstone have over a 90 minute game. We feel we have showed up well in cup football this season. We never lost a goal in the League Cup and we have only lost one goal so far in the Scottish Cup against Celtic at Parkhead.
“We have played two SPFL Premiership teams away from home to get here so I believe we have earned the right to be in the semi-final. Hopefully we can bring a performance that we know we are capable of. If we do that we give ourselves a chance to progress but St Johnstone are a good side and we give them our full respect. I have worked with a lot of their players. I know how good they are and how motivated they are. They will see this as there chance to get to a final as well.
“We have had a lot of big games in recent weeks but none are bigger than this one.
“We will be ready.
“We have only had one defeat since the back end of December which shows we are in decent form. The performance the other night was very pleasing and we have some players who are playing at the top of their game. The players are ready to face the challenges between now and the end of the season. We will do all we can to get to another final.
“I am not sure there will be any extra motivation for their players because of what happened in the previous semi-final. Both sets of players will be doing all they can to get to a final. The scoreline from the League Cup semi-final suggests it was an easy game – it certainly was not. I did think we were the better side though over the 90 minutes and we will aim to do that again on Sunday.
“There should always be a demand on the players of Aberdeen Football Club to get to cup finals. I am comfortable with those demands. I think we have shown the fact we can handle semi-finals and big occasions so we can draw on those experiences.
“In most people’s eyes we will be the favourites for this game but I do not believe there is much between the two sides. We have to bring a performance on Sunday if we are to win. Some of the goals we have had to score to beat St Johnstone this season have been of an extremely high quality.
“Jonny Hayes is progressing well and we would love him to be involved as he is a big player for us but we have to be fair on him. He will still be out for a couple of weeks yet. Alan Tate and Calvin Zola both have niggles but hopefully they will be ok.”
Mark Reynolds
“I think there are a lot psychological factors playing ahead of Sunday. Obviously they will be looking for revenge but the mantra we’ve stuck to all season is we just take it one game at a time and for us it’s a chance to get in to a Final. We’ll go out and enjoy it, try to play like we did on Monday night and aim to get back in to another Final.
“I think they’ve been tough all season. They’ve tried different tactics and players against us and I assume that will be the same on Sunday. We’ll just prepare the way we always prepare and we’ll look at how we are going to win the game. The focus is very much on what we can do rather than on what St Johnstone will do.
“All season we’ve been difficult to break down and that’s one of our strengths and one of the reasons why we’re enjoying the success we are so it’s something we’re going to have to maintain if we want to get to the Final. As a defender it’s something to take a lot of pride in, keeping cleans sheets, so we’ll be aiming to do that come Sunday.
“I think when you’re at a club like Aberdeen there is always pressure and I think now that we’ve got the League Cup I don’t think anyone is resting on that. The fans want to make it a double, they’re dreaming of that and we want to get to the Final to try and make that a reality. Playing at Aberdeen, it’s a club you’re always going to need to handle the pressure. We’d rather be sitting here in this position as opposed to last season.
“I think the manager said before that any time we’ve had a challenge put in front of us we’ve stood up to it and answered the critics. Hopefully we can do that again.
“The manager has brought in a lot of changes to try and make it a strong changing room and keep us tight and together. He has built a great squad. There are quality players there. It’s great for me on a Saturday standing there and you look at the guys in front of you and there’s not many of them you would swap so that in itself brings a confidence. We’re keeping clean sheets, we can rely on the strikers to score goals so there’s a confidence there that when the job needs done we’ve got the players to do it.”
Jamie Langfield
“It is great to be in another semi-final. Hopefully we can go out again and give a good account of ourselves and get back to Parkhead in May. We know though it is going to be a very difficult game against a very good side.
“We have a squad now who believe we can win every game, not just semi-finals. On our day we feel we can beat anyone but we can also still have to odd blip now and again. Sometimes it does not happen. So we are positive and fingers crossed we can get the right result but as I say we know how hard the game is going be.
“St Johnstone are a very good side. I do not believe they get the credit they deserve. For a number of years now they have been in the top six. This is there second semi-final this season. They have some players who can change games. For example Steven McLean who I rate very highly and of course who we had here. They also have Stevie May who is scoring goals. The two of them link up very well together. We are under no illusions how difficult it is going to be. We have played them enough this season to know what to expect.
“When you get to a semi-final you have to grasp the opportunity. These opportunities don’t come along that often. If things don’t do right it won’t be because of a lack of effort. As a team and a squad we will give it our all.We are very determined to win this game.”
RedTV |
The Managers media conference in full please click here
Mark Reynolds interview please click here
Jamie Langfield interview please click here
Russell Anderson interview please click here
RedInsider with Tony Docherty please click hereRedImages | today at training
