Aberdeen

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Much will be said and written about one of the strangest league seasons in Aberdeen's history as they eventually dropped to fifth place in the final Premiership standings.

Having been bottom six last term it is an improvement on the face of it, but many will feel a lingering sense of disappointment given the strong position they occupied in November.

As focus now turns to Saturday's Scottish Cup final, what happened in the league will be forgotten if they can upset the odds at Hampden Park.

The Dons are massive long shots. Bookmakers make Celtic 1/7 odds-on favourites to complete a domestic treble. In other words, they give Aberdeen next to no chance of ending a 35-year wait for a trophy they won five times in eight years from 1982 to their last success in 1990.

Indeed, you won't find anyone outside Aberdeen giving them a prayer and that is something manager Jimmy Thelin will surely tap into this week with his players. After all, there is always a chance.

Given Brendan Rodgers' side have run in 10 goals in the past two meetings and hit Thelin's men for six at the national stadium in November's League Cup semi-final, it is little surprise Aberdeen are such underdogs.

The fact they go into the final on the back of four successive defeats means they are hardly in great shape to face the best team in the country for the silverware.

So, how do the Dons cause one of the biggest Scottish Cup final upsets in the competition's 152-year history?

You have to go back to 1994 for inspiration when Dundee United defeated Walter Smith's dominant Rangers side. The Ibrox club were huge favourites and like Celtic this season, were on a treble, only to have it scuppered by Craig Brewster's goal.

Yes, Hearts beat Rangers fours years later but Smith's team was ageing by then, had missed out on 10 in a row and Jim Jefferies' men had competed well at the top of the league that season.

Before '94, you are probably going back to Eddie Turnbull's Aberdeen getting one over Jock Stein's Celtic in 1970 for a bona fide shock result in a Scottish Cup final. Stein's side featured eight Lisbon Lions, but the Dons won 3-1.

The last time Aberdeen lifted the trophy in 1990 after an energy-sapping penalty shootout, they were a better team than Celtic and had won the League Cup earlier that season so it wasn't a surprising outcome.

The gap between the two has flipped dramatically since then while Rodgers hasn't lost a game at Hampden and has only lost one of the 42 domestic cup ties he has presided over across his two spells at Parkhead.

Whatever way you slice it up, if the Scottish Cup has red and white ribbons wrapped round it on Saturday evening, it will have been as the result of one of the biggest shocks in the history of the showpiece.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Our league season has ended with a whimper. And fans are clearly frustrated as four straight defeats is not exactly the form you want going into a Scottish Cup final.

Sadly the build-up to the final will be overshadowed by the scenes at full-time at Tannadice last Saturday where an object thrown from the away end injured Jack MacKenzie.

I am sure the individual responsible will be punished for their actions which tarnish the Aberdeen that has consistently followed their team in numbers.

On the pitch a bright first 40 minutes rekindled the Aberdeen of old, with fast ing, line breaks and creating chances. Where has that been in recent weeks?

Sadly, familiar failures reared their ugly head. Once again we conceded goals in quick succession - that's three games now we have shipped two in 10 minutes.

There was also a lack of character and confidence, which seriously needs to be addressed over the summer. So does our ability to defend corners.

Lots of work to be done this summer, however for now the focus turns to Hampden. We travel in hope rather than expectation, but we have to cling to the belief we can pull off a minor miracle this Saturday. Maybe it's written in the stars?

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Watch the Sportscene discuss Aberdeen's season and the importance of next weekend's Scottish Cup final.

Watch the Sportscene discuss the incident involving an object hitting Aberdeen's Jack MacKenzie during a full-time pitch invasion at Tannadice.

Watch all the action as Dundee United secured a European spot with a 2-1 win over Aberdeen in their final Scottish Premiership game.

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 2-1 defeat against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Angus: All season we have struggled in the air, I'm surprised we've not been made to to pay more for it than we have. That has to be one of the top priorities for next season.

Andy: Yet another shocker to add to the long list of shockers this season. This game kind of summed up Aberdeen's season. Started great, got found out and then fell apart at the seams. In the end, United's work rate and desire were superior to Aberdeen's. This is what wins games. Jimmy Thelin still doesn't know what his best side is or even if he's got one.

Lindsey: After such a bright start, we crumbled. United wanted it more and deserved the win. Seems we can't maintain any momentum and fail to capitalise on any attacking moves into the box. Bearing in mind we are desperate for a goal, it's somewhat perplexing to see Peter Ambrose come on.

Will: What a shambles, manager and team showed great promise at start of the season but both flattered to deceive. Is the manager the right person for the post? Let's give it until next season. If Dons do not finish third or above, he needs to go. Some may say Dons got lucky in the opening 15 games this time round how could they then finish fifth?

Fred: Another poor performance. We have no versatility, no defence, no attack and a very weak midfield. Our current form is disgraceful and our recent gs by the manager have not strengthened the team. I would not trust him to spend the transfer budget wisely.

Euan: Another absolute embarrassment dished up by this group of players and manager. How long will this go on for? Imagine dreading a Scottish Cup final, that's where we are though.

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• Dundee United have won 14 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Rangers (16) have recovered more.

• Aberdeen have lost an away game after leading at half time in the Premiership for the first time since 2nd March 2024 against St Mirren (seven games without defeat).

• Sam Dalby has scored 15 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee United player.

• Aberdeen have lost their last four games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 21 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, a run of five games.

Brian Irvine, who scored Aberdeen's winning penalty in their 1990 Scottish Cup final over Celtic, will turn 60 on Saturday when the sides meet again in this season's final - and is unsure whether he will attend the game or watch at home. (Record), external

Irvine reveals he was "never confident" with penalties prior to his famous spot-kick. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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We already know Celtic will be in the Champions League play-off round.

And that Rangers will start in the second qualifying stage.

Hibernian, Dundee United and Aberdeen will all be in Europe, too, but the outcome of Saturday's Scottish Cup final will decide who enters which competition and when.

If Celtic win the Scottish Cup...

Hibs will be in the Europa League play-off round. Win that, and they will be in the competition proper. Lose, and it will be the Conference League until Christmas.

Either way, good games and good money.

United will enter the Europa League at the second qualifying round, with the second chance of Conference League preliminaries.

And Aberdeen will enter the Conference League at the second qualifying round.

If Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup...

They will be the ones who will be guaranteed continental combat until December.

Hibs would go into the Europa second qualifying round, with the safety net of a second shot in the Conference preliminaries. But no assured league stage football.

And Dundee United would enter the Conference League second qualifying round.

Dundee United produced a superb comeback to defeat Aberdeen and leapfrog them into fourth place in the Scottish Premiership and clinch European football after a dream first season back in the top flight.

What did you make of Aberdeen's performance? Is fifth place an acceptable finish in Jimmy Thelin's first season?

Share your views.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "In the end, our game summarises our season a little bit. It has been inconsistent in games and between games.

"It can be short moments in the games when we fall too deep and can't really control the situations.

"That's a thing we have identified and tried to work with and do better. SO now we have part during the season we have identified we need to work really hard on in the summer.

"Right now, everybody is so disappointed. Everything is quite dark right now. But it's also my job to look to the future in an optimistic way.

"We have come from a really tough season last season and had a goal to arrive in Europe, we are in Europe.

"We wanted top six, got top six and we try to achieve as high as possdible. We aimed for third and today was bad in [not finishing] fourth.

"With our incosistency we didn't do enough to deserve more over the whole season. This is the first year of a three-year journey. We have identified things we tried to make things better and more stable.

"We have to do even more next season. Our ers throughout the whole season have been there to the team. We have to keep the belief.

"We wanted more, but we did not have the level throughout the whole season. We have to fix the things we've identified to be better next season."

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Aberdeen's has finished with deepening questions about Jimmy Thelin's project.

It started in unbelievable fashion with 15 straight wins in all competitions and talk of a title race but since mid-November they have been the worst team in the league by points gathered. They have won five of their last 27 league matches.

While United, St Mirren and Hibernian have sorted the fundamental cornerstones of what makes a successful Premiership side, Aberdeen have not.

They are vulnerable defensively, particular in dealing with balls into their box, and their lack of power and mobility in midfield is regularly exploited on the counter.

A goal difference of -13 is testament to that, as is the way United put them under pressure after a bright 30 minutes at Tannadice.

Thelin does not appear to have learned from this over the course of the campaign, since a 6-0 League Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic appeared to shatter their confidence in the autumn.

Winning the Scottish Cup next week against Celtic would be the salvation of all footballing salvations for the Aberdeen manager.

But either way, the club may need to think about whether their recruitment strategy and style of play is suitable for the unique rigours and pressures of Scottish football.

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Dundee United are missing Craig Sibbald, Ross Graham and Luca Stephenson but Emmanuel Adegboyega and Lewis Fiorini have a chance.

Aberdeen defender Alfie Dorrington is suspended while Ester Sokler (leg), Sivert Heltne Nilsen (eye) and Vicente Besuijen (knee) are still out injured.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin says perspective is important when assessing their season as the Dons prepare to face Dundee United in their final match of the Premiership campaign.

A point at Tannadice would secure a fourth-place finish for Thelin's side, but three straight defeats have cost them a chance at finishing above Hibs in third.

Despite their recent wobble, Thelin insists fourth and a shot at the Scottish Cup - Aberdeen meet Celtic in the final next week - would be a positive season given their struggles before his arrival.

"Sometimes when you're in some moments when it's not going exactly how you want, you have to zoom out a little bit and see what's happened this season," Thelin said.

"We are in the top six again, our goal was Europe, we have achieved that goal.

"When you are in that top six, you try to get the highest position you can reach, and it was the third spot.

"Now it's impossible, now we have to try to achieve the fourth position. But what the players have pushed themselves through this season, from a really difficult season last season, they arrive to a [Scottish Cup] final, a [League Cup] semi-final, and now have the chance to arrive fourth in the league.

"So you have to zoom out and look at what actually has happened and how they have done it through a lot of transfers in and out, some injuries, and still we are there to give us a chance to arrive fourth.

"That, I think, is overall a good performance. Sometimes you just need to lift the eye a little bit and see where we are. It's the first year of a three-year project, and we try to progress our work all the time to be better in the future."

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been talking to the media before his side finish their Scottish Premiership campaign against Dundee United on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his news conference:

• Thelin stressed the need to "zoom out" and view Aberdeen's season as a whole despite a poor run of results.

• He says to reach the Scottish Cup final and have an opportunity to finish fourth in the league is "overall a good performance".

• The Swedish manager pointed out Aberdeen are only one year into a "three-year project".

• When asked about Aberdeen's plans for the summer, Thelin says they will try to get the maximum value from their budget.

• On Nicolas Milanovic, Thelin says the Australian's profile will bring "a lot of value" and is excited to meet up with his newest g.

• Thelin wants his team to "close this season in a good way" starting against Dundee United.

• Described the Scottish Cup final as a "really great opportunity", but insists he is not looking beyond the next game.

• Every member of his squad is available for selection apart from Alfie Dorrington, who is suspended.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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It had looked like a tight, three-horse race for third spot would go down to the wire - until losing streaks for Dundee United (four) and Aberdeen (three) handed the prize to Hibernian.

Now the Dons, who have suffered successive heavy defeats by Rangers and Celtic, travel to Tannadice still three points clear of their hosts as they go head to head for fourth.

United, who beat Aberdeen 1-0 on their last visit in December before a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie, must win to overtake their east-coast rivals on goal difference.

Even then, they will have to wait until the Scottish Cup final before knowing whether that will be enough to ensure they enter Europa League qualifying for the first time since 2012-13.

That is because, should Aberdeen then beat Celtic at Hampden, United would have to make do with the less prestigious Conference League second qualifying round instead of the same stage of the Europa League.

Aberdeen are guaranteed Conference League football even if they lose the cup final and finish fifth, but United could find themselves missing out on European football altogether if they suffer defeat on Saturday.

However, that would require sixth-top St Mirren, who are one point behind, to spoil Celtic's title-winning party.

A draw in Glasgow, combined with a United defeat, would take the Buddies into Europe instead on goal difference.

An unlikely St Mirren win, meanwhile, would leave United needing a victory of their own.

To add to the intrigue, that would mean United's Jim Goodwin would have spoiled the European aspirations of the two clubs he previously managed.

Read all the final weekend Premiership picks

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Connor Barron says "standards are a lot higher" at Rangers compared to Aberdeen as he looks to kick on after a turbulent first season at Ibrox.

The 22-year-old midfielder has made 33 starts in 45 appearances since his summer switch from Pittodrie.

While Rangers have endured a trophyless campaign and sacked Philippe Clement as manager, Barron is "really excited with my first season".

Speaking before Rangers' final game of the season away to Hibs on Saturday, he added: "To play as many games as I have and to do what I have done, I've been quite happy with it.

"But I want to go and do better next season. That's just how I am. I'm hungry for more and we'll go away after the game against Hibs and work on my game to get better again.

"Obviously it's disappointing to not be as successful as I would have liked to have been in my first season and have a few trophies.

"But you learn a lot and you carry that with you and that's what I've done. I pick up a lot as a player every day in training and the standards are a lot higher than what they were in the previous club.

"So that's one just for example, but there's so many things and it's good as well to have that and to learn."

Barron is relaxed about the prospect of having to impress another new manager next season, with interim boss Barry Ferguson expected to be overlooked as an American consortium of Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises edges closer to completing its takeover of the club.

"No, that's football. That's what happens. I've been in the game a while and I went through lots of managers at Aberdeen in my time," added Barron.

"You've just got to do what you can as a player and be the best every day and what will happen will happen."

Barron has learned a lot from former Scotland midfielder Ferguson plus other ex-Rangers and Scotland players on his staff, Neil McCann and Billy Dodds.

"All three of them have been great. Individual sessions after training, little bits after games here and there," he said.

"I've just been a sponge taking it all in and it's been great working with them so far."

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• Dundee United have won four of their past five home league games against Aberdeen, with the exception a 3-1 defeat in March 2023.

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their past five league games against Dundee United (W3 D1), although are winless in their latest two (D1 L1), losing their last away from home in December (1-0).

• Dundee United have only lost their final league game in one of their past five Scottish Premiership seasons (W3 D1), although that was their last campaign in the division in 2022-23 (3-2 v Motherwell).

• Aberdeen haven't won on the final day of the season in any of their past four league campaigns (D2 L2) – they had won their final game in four successive league seasons before this (including curtailed 2019-20).

• A win in this match would see Dundee United become the first newly-promoted side to finish in the Scottish Premiership's top four since Hearts in 2021-22 (third). It would also see the Tangerines compete in Europa League qualifying for the first time since 2012-13.