Derek McInnes has watched his young Aberdeen side come of age this season and thinks they can graduate with Scottish Cup honours.
The Dons are gearing up for next month’s semi-final with Celtic but before the Premiership split they face games with Hearts, Motherwell and Dundee.
McInnes is looking for the Pittodrie men to push for second spot or at least seal third to nail down a Europa League place.
But he’s also desperate to deliver the second trophy of his reign.
He said: “We all want so much to be a successful team. The players give so much all year long and ultimately you want a reward at the end of it.
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“We’ve finished second time and time again but when we’ve not had a final to look forward to then it doesn’t feel like the season you’d want it to be because sometimes the cups can define your season.
“Only four teams can win it now and we are one of them. We will be doing all we can to do that when it comes.”
McInnes had been criticised for not giving youth a chance but this term Connor McLennan and Dean Campbell have had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Scott McKenna, while Lewis Ferguson, Max Lowe and Sam Cosgrove have also been blended in.
McInnes said: “We are a younger team this year.
“While we’ve beaten Celtic and Rangers in the years we’ve been here, the way we’ve done it recently has been pleasing.
“There’s a real strength and resilience about the team and a real spirit amongst them.
“We have taken lots of confidence from not conceding or conceding early in the game.
“We have shown an ability to defend well and that has been the platform because one goal was enough at Ibrox and at Hampden in the semi-final.
“One was also enough from Andy Considine at Celtic Park last season. It’s because we have defended well with concentration that we have denied space.
“The team has been structured and we’ve not been too gung-ho.
“It was a brilliant night for the club at Ibrox and I hope that still being in the Cup will help our league form as well.”
Aberdeen are eight points behind Rangers and have missed chances to close the gap thanks to a horror run of just one win in their last seven league games at Pittodrie.
But on their travels they are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions and that is why they will head to Tynecastle with belief on Saturday.
McInnes said: “The Hearts game will be tough, they have been pretty strong at home.
“We have been very strong on the road recently so it has the makings of a tough and tight game.
“We have work to do to cement our European spot.
“We have to go all out, so we need as many victories as we can in our last eight league games.
“We know there are teams coming from behind us but we are looking up.
“We must respond with winning performances and hopefully we can do that against Hearts then again at home on the Wednesday against Motherwell.”
