Aberdeen drawn Celtic shock blueprint by club legend as ex Rangers boss hands them 'key' to Hampden glory
Jimmy Thelin's men battered 5-1 at Pittodrie earlier this month by Brendan Rodgers' fringe team with the odds stacked against them
Alex McLeish has insisted Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin could upset the odds and cause a Cup final shock if he copies his Birmingham blueprint.
The Dons find themselves up against it as they go into Saturday's final against treble-chasing Celtic.
Brendan Rodgers' fringe team smashed Aberdeen 5-1 at Pittodrie earlier this month and he will bring his big hitters back for the Hampden clash, as they look to complete the domestic clean sweep.
The Pittodrie legend was in a similar position in the 2011 League Cup final when his Blues went in against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal.
Birmingham came from behind and famously beat the Gunners 2-1 to lift the trophy thanks to Obafemi Martin's last-minute winner.
McLeish said: 'You would have to say Celtic will be firm favourites but in a one-off game anything can happen.
'I know that from experience when we lifted the cup at Birmingham City. Not many people fancied us to beat Arsenal but we did.
'We went into that game with a strategy and a plan to stifle their attacking players.
'We worked on it, stuck to it, got a bit of luck and in the end we lifted the cup.
'Jimmy Thelin has to come up with his own strategy that he feels will help Aberdeen get a result against Celtic.
'We all know Celtic are a top team and the odds are against the Dons but we have seen a lot bigger upsets than this throughout the years.
'If Jimmy and his players can get their game plan right then they will give themselves a chance.
'I know the result wasn't great against Celtic the last time out but they did get a good result at Celtic Park in the first game.
'They have done it before and have to believe they can do it again.'
This is Thelin's first season in Scotland and McLeish would love it to have a silver-lined ending.
He was the last Aberdeen captain to lift the Scottish Cup. That was 35 years ago, when, ironically, they beat Celtic on penalties.
McLeish knows it has been a season of contrasting fortunes for former Elfsborg coach Thelin.
The former Don admitted: 'The start of the season they were absolutely electric. They were a team who were flying, full of energy and confidence.
'They were up at the top of the league and it was real high tempo stuff, from the pressing to their tracking back.
'They then had a bit of a dip but have found a wee bit more consistency in making the top six.
'If Jimmy and his players can regain that feeling they had at the start of the season and get their tactics right then they will give themselves a chance.
'The key is trying to nullify Celtic's strengths. I know they have a lot and if they can take their chances at the other end then you never know what could happen.'
Thelin has already had advice from Aberdeen's greatest-ever manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, this season.
He met him at Celtic Park after their 2-2 draw and then was his guest at a Manchester United game.
McLeish knows his former manager's approach would be to go and have a go at Celtic and Rangers as he did in Aberdeen's golden era.
McLeish lifted four Scottish Cups under him and a fifth under Alex Smith and Jocky Scott. The former Scotland boss acknowledged: 'Listen, you know, the one guy the boss always loved was whenever we played Celtic and Rangers.
'He wanted us to play against them and all the other top teams speed.
'They have speed as well but if you have pace, a bit of thought and there is a game plan then he always thought we could nullify their threats.
'I know the times have changed and Celtic and Rangers are two enormous clubs but one a one-off you can always give them a game and get a result.
'That is what Aberdeen needs to look to do. If would be great if Jimmy could follow in Sir Alex's footsteps and lift the Scottish Cup.'
It would also be fitting if they could do it on the anniversary of the club's last Scottish Cup triumph.
McLeish was captain that day as it went to penalties and Theo Snelders saved from Anton Rogan and Brian Irvine netted the winner.
'I had some great memories in the Scottish Cup,' McLeish recalled. 'I won it five times so it wasn't a bad competition for me.
'I think I won four under the boss and then the final one under Alex and Jocky (Scott).
'That final one was special. Every cup and league win is special but that day I will remember because I was Aberdeen captain.
'To lift that trophy was special and is a moment I will never forget."
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