NafisaJimmy Thelin has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson has shared some guidance ahead of the Scottish Cup final clash with Celtic.
The Dons’ most iconic manager has crossed paths with the current head coach a few times, and the two have formed a bit of a connection.
Thelin acknowledged it’s a privilege to be able to reach out to Sir Alex and expressed a desire to emulate his success by delivering trophies to Aberdeen.
Thelin confirmed: “Yes, he has been in touch and I have some advice also. He’s a really nice gentleman and it’s good to talk to him sometimes.
“(It would be) Nice to follow in his footsteps. Now we focus on the Scottish Cup.”
Ferguson lifted the Scottish Cup four times, and Aberdeen have only managed to win it once since then. That was 35 years ago, when Alex Smith and Jocky Scott’s side defeated Celtic on penalties. Thelin is aware that underlines the scale of the task his team faces.
The Swede cautioned: “First of all, it’s easy to take things for granted. It was eight years last time we were in the Scottish Cup final.
“You can end up in the final, but you can’t promise things. You can promise that it’s going to be a really good achievement and the players understand and try to catch the moment.
“We can’t do more than the best we can do and hopefully that’s going to help us to win it.
“We know we have a really good opponent on the other side but a cup is a cup and a final is a final.”
Thelin shared that Aberdeen’s appearance in the Scottish Cup final has attracted attention back in Sweden.
He elaborated: “The Scottish Cup is the oldest competition, that’s what people I know also know.
“They think it’s an amazing moment, an incredible moment. Everybody, of course, is wishing me luck and every footballer luck at this moment.”
Thelin has encouraged his Aberdeen players to embrace the opportunity in today’s Scottish Cup showdown.
The Swede is gearing up for his first major final in charge, as he looks to craft a strategy capable of halting treble-chasing Celtic.
Thelin understands that the Hampden showdown could be the final appearance in red for several members of his squad.
Jamie McGrath has already committed to Hibs, Jack MacKenzie appears set to depart on a free, and the loan spells of Kevin Nisbet, Jeppe Okkels, and Oday Dabbagh are ending.
Thelin recognised: “It can be (the last Aberdeen appearance for some of my players).
“So many things happen in a team in one year.
“I saw some videos from the season in my first week here and some came from the friendly games and it’s incredible how much has happened.
“Even the players who have come and left. It’s a lot.
“A lot of changes happened this year with players and even staff. It’s gone so quick.
“(I would say) Don’t take things for granted because football is quite a long career but it’s also a short one. You never know what’s happening in the future.
“Sometimes you get injuries. Sometimes you go to another club that is really good but can’t have this level to reach the finals. So catch this moment. That’s the message we have.”
Aberdeen haven’t lifted the Scottish Cup in 35 years. Their last trophy came 11 years ago when Derek McInnes’ side secured the League Cup.
Thelin has reminded his squad that the club’s storied past shouldn’t weigh them down and urged them to forge their own legacy.
He claimed: “I think you can always use history in different ways.
“Sometimes we can keep doing what we want to be and try to come back to be a stable team and fight for these titles and try to win.
“That’s the first thing but you can’t carry the weight from the past. That’s different. You have to try to create a new story and focus on this.
“That’s what it was then and it’s incredible but we are trying to push for a good future. That’s why we said we’re trying to build a stronger team for every season and nothing has changed there.
“Now, at this moment, we are in the final of the first year and we’re going to try to do something good with the time we have here.”
Alfie Dorrington is back in contention after serving his domestic ban. Thelin may opt to shuffle his setup and potentially abandon his usual 4-2-3-1 shape as he seeks an edge over Celtic.
He acknowledged: “We have been a bit inconsistent when we rotate or get some injuries, that’s a thing we have to figure out.
“Football is a game of mistakes and you are going to make mistakes, but you can’t make too many.
“How can we play smart in this kind of game when it’s all or nothing? You have to be there, understand it and have good decision-making under pressure.
“The best way to do this is to do it together. We grow together, we protect each other and we try to grow together in these moments.”
A trophy is on the line, but victory would also seal a lucrative place in European group stage football.
The Aberdeen boss said: “I think as a group, because we are together, it’s about how we can grow as a group. The best way to always be better at things is to expose yourself to things such as pressure, competition and opponents.
“You have to always be under pressure. It’s one way to get a diamond, always under pressure to be better and better.
“The more you get used to this, the more consistent you become, especially in the league, it means you are going to Europe every year.
“If you are doing that every year you know you have a good team because you are consistent. Then you have more possibilities to reach the cups and in Europe.
“The more times you can do that, the more you are going to have experience inside the squad and also as a club.
“Experience of how we can cope with both Europe and the three other competitions.
“Instead of being like a yo-yo during the season, how can you manage the games and the load.”
Thelin knows his debut campaign in Scotland could end on a high note if it concludes with silverware.
He claimed: “We already have a tight schedule in the league. Then you add in the European games and the cup games.
“I think it’s 52 games on the table for us with the league, the League Cup and Scottish Cup. We are going to play 51 of these 52.
“That’s quite a good achievement in one way, but we can’t do more than that. We missed one final, but we are in the other final.”
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