ALEXANDER Jensen has tipped Aberdeen to use their Scottish Gas Scottish Cup triumph as a springboard to further success in the future and has predicted the Pittodrie side will only get better under manager Jimmy Thelin in future.
Jensen and his team mates were cheered and applauded by around 100,000 jubilant Dons supporters on Sunday afternoon as they made their way around the Granite City on an open-topped bus with the trophy they had lifted at Hampden the day before.
The Dane, who only moved to this country from Brommapojkarna in Sweden back in January, is convinced it will be the first of many celebrations which they enjoy together.
The 23-year-old, who played at right wing-back in the 3-4-3 formation which Thelin switched to in the final against Celtic, is convinced Aberdeen will perform at an even higher level at home and abroad in the 2025/26 campaign.
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"We're looking forward to next season,” he said. “We believe we can still get better every day. I do believe this is just the start with Jimmy Thelin. I think we can be even better next season.
"We know we can be better in the league (Graeme Shinnie and his team mates finished fifth in the William Hill Premiership after losing to Dundee United at Tannadice in their final game). It feels amazing to win the Scottish Cup and hopefully we can create even more history for this club."
Thelin’s change of tactics raised eyebrows before kick-off on Saturday. But the new set-up had the desired impact as Brendan Rodgers’ men struggled to create or convert scoring chances. Jensen feels Aberdeen may be less porous at the back and more difficult to beat going forward.
"Before in the season in our games against Celtic, we'd maybe tried to be more offensive,” he said. "On Saturday, we made some changes and obviously it was a great choice.
"Over the last couple of weeks, it's felt like when our opponent scores once they go on and keep scoring. It was good from us I thought to stay calm and stick to our plan. All the subs that came on did amazing. As a team, to win trophies you need everyone to contribute. They certainly did that.
"We had a strong belief when we went into the game that we were here to win. We talked about it a lot and that gave us belief. We knew we had a great chance. This is without a doubt the biggest achievement of my career."
Sure enough, the Bulgarian internationalist denied first Callum McGregor and then Alistair Johnston to clinch a 4-2 shootout victory and a first Scottish Cup triumph since way back in 1990.
The penalty shootout triumph over Celtic on Saturday secured a place in the Europa League play-off round – and ensured that Aberdeen will play European group stage football next term as they will drop into the Conference League if they lose that double header.
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"Actually, I didn't notice what had happened (with the Schmeichel own goal) at the time,” he said. "I thought it had been hit in by a defender. It's not often you see that from him.
"Mitov was unbelievable throughout the game. We had a feeling when they missed that chance at the end (the keeper denied Daizen Maeda with a superb save at the death), that it could be our day. And it turned out that way which was fantastic.
"We practiced penalties on Friday. I was down as number six. I knew with our goalkeeper that we had a good chance. I'd seen Kasper saving penalties for the national team, so I knew he was good. But I knew we had an even better goalkeeper."
Jensen confessed that getting the chance to play in continental competition was why he moved to Scotland at the start of this year
“It does mean a lot for the club,” he said. "That is almost more important as a reward. Now we are in the play-offs of the Europa League and we are guaranteed European group stage football. That is amazing and it's one of the reasons why I came here. We're looking forward to it."
