Friday 26 May 2017 18:43, UK
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes insists his side "could not be more ready" to face Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden.
The Dons have lost all five games against Brendan Rodgers' side this season, including a 3-0 defeat in the League Cup final in November, but have enjoyed a fine campaign, including a second-place finish in the Premiership and have another cup final to look forward to on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1.
McInnes said his side have prepared as they normally would for any big game and claims their form this season, including a recent 2-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox, gives him real confidence ahead of the weekend.
"The week has been really quite normal in terms of training preparation," McInnes said at his pre-match news conference.
"We would normally travel down Friday for a game in Glasgow, Friday after training, but because our pitch has been ripped up for renewal, we travelled down late last night [Thursday] and we trained in Glasgow this morning, so other than that preparation has been for any game in Glasgow.
"Obviously it is not just any other game, it is a cup final and there has been a wee bit more to do in terms of organisation in the early part of the week with the press day, a bit more on that as you'd expect on a Tuesday, but the players have been really relaxed to be honest.
"I'm taking strength from the confidence of the team and the performances we have had of late, through the league form and the experiences we've had this season.
"It is now our fourth visit to Hampden this season, we have won two and lost one. Winning at Ibrox last week was important as well so I actually feel as though we couldn't be more ready."
Elsewhere, McInnes insists he has no doubt about the outgoing Ryan Jack's commitment and says he wants the midfielder to leave Pittodrie in a "blaze of glory" after Saturday's cup final.
The club confirmed early this week that Graeme Shinnie would lead Aberdeen out against Celtic in the final and not skipper Jack, who has been heavily linked with a move to Rangers when his contract expires at the end of the season.
"It's ridiculous to even think he wouldn't be committed," McInnes said. "Ryan is a boy I have had a lot of time for. From the first day I walked in I built my team round about him. He later became my captain and his level of performance for me has been brilliant.
"We took the sting out the situation early in the week for lots of reasons and put it to bed. I didn't want to be getting asked questions today on that.
"Graeme Shinnie was always going to be my captain next season once Ryan decided he was moving on, and I think it's wrong for everyone to assume that a deal has been done. It hasn't, and I believe him.
"Ryan will be fully committed. He is an Aberdeen boy, he has been at the club from an early age, he would love nothing more than to be a Scottish Cup winner in his last game. He has served us well, we wanted him to remain with us but such is life, players move on and there are a few in that boat. And hopefully, they can all finish in a blaze of glory.
"He's still relatively young and I'm sure he will say himself there are maybe things he could have done differently, but he has never ever been anything other than committed and a slick performer for me on the pitch, and I expect nothing different. I am not fazed one way or another that Ryan Jack won't produce a performance if he is picked to start."
