Derek McInnes must take Aberdeen trophy inspiration from Gothenburg Greats says Dougie Bell

p Dougie Bell knows what it takes to win trophies with a href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/all-about/aberdeen-fc target=_blank data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link data-content-type=sectionAberdeen/a. /p p During a seven-year spell the midfielder collected three titles, two a href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/all-about/william-hill-scottish-cup target=_blank data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link data-content-type=sectionScottish Cup/a medals and the jewel in the crown #x2013; a Cup Winners#x2019; Cup gong in 1983. /p p It was a golden era for the Dons in which they dished out regular whippings to Rangers and Celtic on the back of a fearless approach instilled in the players by a href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/all-about/sir-alex-ferguson target=_blank data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link data-content-type=sectionSir Alex Ferguson/a. /p pThe Scottish football landscape may have changed almost beyond recognition in the four decades since #x2013; but Bell insists the Dons still have to deliver silverware for their demanding punters./p pSaturday#x2019;s Betfred Cup calamity against St Mirren was a second cup KO in a month for the beleaguered Red Army./p p Falling at the first hurdle was bad. But a href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/all-about/celtic-fc target=_blank data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link data-content-type=sectionCeltic#x2019;s/a elimination 24 hours later only served to heighten the annoyance of the Pittodrie faithful. /p pAs the pressure on Hoops boss Neil Lennon reaches fever pitch, Dons gaffer Derek McInnes has also never been far from the flak./p pBell still believes McInnes is the man to deliver success #x2013; but insists he must take a leaf out of his side#x2019;s approach of almost 40 years ago./p p/ p The 61-year-old Pittodrie legend br/ said: #x201C;Aberdeen have the third best squad in Scotland. /p p#x201C;Losing to St Mirren is bad enough but then seeing Celtic get dumped by Ross County adds to the frustration for fans./p p#x201C;Derek has to get the Dons back to finals and then on their day you#x2019;d have to say they would be capable of beating anyone, including Rangers./p p#x201C;But they have to approach these games right. If you sit back and let Rangers or Celtic play then they are going to whip your a**e. It#x2019;s that simple./p p#x201C;We obviously had a better team when I was playing but when we played Celtic we went after them./p p#x201C;But these days Aberdeen always seem to sit back against Celtic. I don#x2019;t know why. When they got in about them in the draw at Pittodrie you could see Celtic didn#x2019;t like it./p p#x201C;Then they started the semi-final a week later at Hampden well. I thought they had every chance. But they got forced back and Celtic got hold of the ball in midfield./p img src=https://i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article23056911.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Rangers-v-Aberdeen-Ladbrokes-Scottish-Premiership.jpg data-portal-copyright=SNS Group/ p#x201C;Then at Ibrox last week it just looked like damage limitation. Aberdeen had a few important players missing to be fair. But if you are going to win titles and cups you have to go for it a bit more./p p#x201C;That#x2019;s what has let Aberdeen down in the past few years #x2013; being too defensive against the big guns.#x201D;/p pThe 4-0 loss at Ibrox was Aberdeen#x2019;s first defeat on the road domestically since last December. But it started a miserable run of games in the central belt that saw them scrape a draw in Hamilton before being turfed out of the cup by Saints./p pBell insists the supporters must keep faith with McInnes though./p pHe certainly knows a successful gaffer when he sees one having played under Graeme Souness at Rangers and Fergie at St Mirren and Pittodrie. In fact the 61-year-old is on the verge of releasing a book on his career titled So Good Fergie Signed Him Twice./p pBell said: #x201C;If Aberdeen win their next few games then people will forget about Saturday and they could actually find themselves pushing for second place in the league./p p#x201C;That#x2019;s not enough though. Aberdeen fans want to win things.#x201D;/p