Jimmy Thelin – Aberdeen can surprise Celtic at Hampden

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The Celtic Star

·23 May 2025

Jimmy Thelin – Aberdeen can surprise Celtic at Hampden

Jimmy Thelin insists he is keen to see his Aberdeen side join the ranks of surprise cup winners across Europe this season ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup final against Celtic…

Aberdeen Manager Jimmy Thelin arrives ahead of the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee and Aberdeen at Dens Park, on 28 September 2024. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI

This season has well and truly belonged to the underdogs, with Crystal Palace shocking Manchester City to win their first ever FA Cup and Newcastle ending a 70-year trophy drought by beating English champions Liverpool to secure the Carabao Cup.

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Clutching at straws

The KNVB Cup in the Netherlands saw Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles oust AZ Alkmaar on penalties, while Scotland international Lewis Ferguson, grabbed attention as his Bologna heroes triumphed over AC Milan to win the Coppa Italia for the first time in 51 years.

Aberdeen last won the Scottish Cup 35 years ago, and the Swedish coach hopes his team can keep the European trend going by halting Celtic’s treble bid at Hampden this weekend.

Brendan Rodgers and Jimmy Thelin during the Premier Sports Cup Semi-Final match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on November 02, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It’s not every year you are in the Scottish Cup Final; I think the last one was eight years ago. What we have tried to say is that it’s an achievement to arrive in the Final but once you are there the winner takes it all. We have a shared strong belief we can do it and that is the mindset you have to have. Look at other cup finals in Europe this year, a lot of things have happened,” Thelin said as reported by Daily Record.

Crystal Palace example helps Aberdeen

“Does Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup last weekend show what can happen? Yes, because a final is always a final. If you go into the game in the right way, the things you try to do are working then the possibility is always there. Will I speak to the players about this? We speak about a lot of things; we have our strategies.”

Celtic v Aberdeen – Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin centre right shake hands with Gavin Molloy right after the final whistle in the Scottish l Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday October 19, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow

Celtic are overwhelming favourites to secure the Scottish Cup and achieve the Treble, while majority beyond Aberdeen have already dismissed the Dons’ chances.

“Small adjustments – you will see on Saturday.”

The Swede said: “Every club always has pressure one way or another. You have to embrace it and focus on what you have to do to win, whether the pressure is there or not. In this game the pressure is there in one way but we have to focus on what we need to do as a team. We have to be really concentrated in some moments. They have won the last games, so of course we always adjust things because that’s important.”

“In the league you’re trying to build for the long term and improve things. Some moments of the game in the past have been good. The start against Celtic away was really good and then it was 3-0 to them, so of course we know there are areas we need to help each other better in some moments of the game. Small adjustments – you will see on Saturday.”

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 4th December 2024. Photo Mark Runnacles Shutterstock

Thelin realises he must devise a new strategy if he hopes to finally overcome Brendan Rodgers. The 47 year-old said: “I like Brendan and have had good chats with him. When you talk, sometimes with people you can talk about everything – football and other things also. He is a good person and a good manager. When you see what he’s done and the way he works, he’s a really good manager with a lot of experience.

“I have a lot of respect for him but on Saturday it’s a final and now we will compete against each other. It’s really exciting.”

Conor Spence

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