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The National
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Spurs loanee argues Aberdeen won cup because they wanted it more
The Aberdeen centre-half, who joined the Pittodrie club on loan from the English giants back in January, experienced a pang of jealousy as he watched Ange Postecoglou and his players receiving a heroes' welcome from their jubilant supporters live on television. He more than made up for not being there yesterday afternoon, though, during the Dons' emotional open-topped bus parade through the streets of the Granite City with the Scottish Cup trophy. 'I obviously watched the Tottenham one the other day,' he said, 'A few of my mates were there and they said it was crazy. It would have been nice to experience that. But the Aberdeen one was just crazy too. 'There were so many people there, it was absolutely packed. I know it's been a long time since we've won this competition and hopefully we've given back to the fans and the city.' Read more: Dorrington, who was immense at the back during the cup final victory over Celtic at Hampden on Saturday, is unsure if he will be boarding the Aberdeen or the Spurs team bus next season. But the 20-year-old is open-minded about his next move. 'Obviously, I love the city, the club, the staff and the players,' he said. 'I love Tottenham as well. They're kind of in charge of what I do. I'd be grateful if Aberdeen came back in for me, but it's all in Tottenham's hands.' The England Under-19 internationalist, who has been a player at the Premier League club since he was 13 and who made his first team debut for them against Southampton back in December, revealed that Spurs officials had been in constant contact with him since he moved north and had been delighted at the success which he enjoyed. 'They've kept in touch the whole time,' he said. 'On Friday night and before the game, they were messaging me good luck. I think some of them watched the game. It's nice to know that I have the support from Tottenham and nice to know that I have the support from Aberdeen as well.' Dorrington was unfortunate to put treble-chasing Celtic in front at Hampden on Saturday – a Cameron Carter-Vickers header at an Arne Engels corner glanced off his back and went into his own net off the inside of the post just before half-time. But the defender, who had little difficulty adapting to manager Jimmy Thelin's new 3-4-3 formation, was always convinced that Aberdeen could recover from the setback and prevail in the Scottish Gas-sponsored competition for the first time in 35 years. (Image: Jane Barlow - PA Wire) 'I was marking my man and looking at him,' he said. 'At the last minute last minute, I think it took a nick off someone. But I thought we were comfortable even though we were 1-0 down. 'They dominated the ball and got a lot of crosses in. But we felt comfortable all the time and trusted what the gaffer said. It may have seemed a bit hectic, but it just felt really comfortable.' 'You can talk about systems and formations and tactics. But I think it's just who wants it more, to be honest. Some of the boys are putting their bodies on the line, cramping up and still playing on. It just shows how much it means to us. 'There's always a chance in a game of football. They're Celtic. We had to respect them, but I don't think we ever feared them. Maybe the people not giving us a chance gave us a bit more motivation to win and prove them wrong. Read more: 'I think we all just knew that it was our last game together as a group. People might move on. Obviously, for me, I knew this was the last game of my loan. I tried to go out with a bang. 'There was a lot of emotions in the game, but you have to stay emotionless. You've got a job to do. When you do your job, it gives you a chance. Obviously, like I said, a lot of people were doubting us. One per cent is still a chance. Anything can happen in the game of football.' Wherever Dorrington ends up in future, he will always look back on his time with Aberdeen with great fondness as well as gratitude that he was able to take part in such a historic triumph. 'When I first came here, I wasn't really starting, but I think that's another learning thing,' he said. 'You have to support the boys when you're not playing. I was grateful for their trust in me and for the experiences I've gained. I'll never forget the state of them at the end of the final. 'I don't even know how many people there were there on Saturday. Around 50,000? When you're in the game, you obviously feel it, but you don't really recognise how big of an occasion it is. 'Maybe being from down south, it took me a while to realise that this is the Scottish version of the FA Cup. It's probably the same in size. When I came off and was looking around I was thinking, 'Wow,! I played in this?' I'm just grateful for the opportunity.'
Glasgow Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Spurs loanee argues Aberdeen won cup because they wanted it more
The Aberdeen centre-half, who joined the Pittodrie club on loan from the English giants back in January, experienced a pang of jealousy as he watched Ange Postecoglou and his players receiving a heroes' welcome from their jubilant supporters live on television. He more than made up for not being there yesterday afternoon, though, during the Dons' emotional open-topped bus parade through the streets of the Granite City with the Scottish Cup trophy. 'I obviously watched the Tottenham one the other day,' he said, 'A few of my mates were there and they said it was crazy. It would have been nice to experience that. But the Aberdeen one was just crazy too. 'There were so many people there, it was absolutely packed. I know it's been a long time since we've won this competition and hopefully we've given back to the fans and the city.' Read more: Dorrington, who was immense at the back during the cup final victory over Celtic at Hampden on Saturday, is unsure if he will be boarding the Aberdeen or the Spurs team bus next season. But the 20-year-old is open-minded about his next move. 'Obviously, I love the city, the club, the staff and the players,' he said. 'I love Tottenham as well. They're kind of in charge of what I do. I'd be grateful if Aberdeen came back in for me, but it's all in Tottenham's hands.' The England Under-19 internationalist, who has been a player at the Premier League club since he was 13 and who made his first team debut for them against Southampton back in December, revealed that Spurs officials had been in constant contact with him since he moved north and had been delighted at the success which he enjoyed. 'They've kept in touch the whole time,' he said. 'On Friday night and before the game, they were messaging me good luck. I think some of them watched the game. It's nice to know that I have the support from Tottenham and nice to know that I have the support from Aberdeen as well.' Dorrington was unfortunate to put treble-chasing Celtic in front at Hampden on Saturday – a Cameron Carter-Vickers header at an Arne Engels corner glanced off his back and went into his own net off the inside of the post just before half-time. But the defender, who had little difficulty adapting to manager Jimmy Thelin's new 3-4-3 formation, was always convinced that Aberdeen could recover from the setback and prevail in the Scottish Gas-sponsored competition for the first time in 35 years. (Image: Jane Barlow - PA Wire) 'I was marking my man and looking at him,' he said. 'At the last minute last minute, I think it took a nick off someone. But I thought we were comfortable even though we were 1-0 down. 'They dominated the ball and got a lot of crosses in. But we felt comfortable all the time and trusted what the gaffer said. It may have seemed a bit hectic, but it just felt really comfortable.' 'You can talk about systems and formations and tactics. But I think it's just who wants it more, to be honest. Some of the boys are putting their bodies on the line, cramping up and still playing on. It just shows how much it means to us. 'There's always a chance in a game of football. They're Celtic. We had to respect them, but I don't think we ever feared them. Maybe the people not giving us a chance gave us a bit more motivation to win and prove them wrong. Read more: 'I think we all just knew that it was our last game together as a group. People might move on. Obviously, for me, I knew this was the last game of my loan. I tried to go out with a bang. 'There was a lot of emotions in the game, but you have to stay emotionless. You've got a job to do. When you do your job, it gives you a chance. Obviously, like I said, a lot of people were doubting us. One per cent is still a chance. Anything can happen in the game of football.' Wherever Dorrington ends up in future, he will always look back on his time with Aberdeen with great fondness as well as gratitude that he was able to take part in such a historic triumph. 'When I first came here, I wasn't really starting, but I think that's another learning thing,' he said. 'You have to support the boys when you're not playing. I was grateful for their trust in me and for the experiences I've gained. I'll never forget the state of them at the end of the final. 'I don't even know how many people there were there on Saturday. Around 50,000? When you're in the game, you obviously feel it, but you don't really recognise how big of an occasion it is. 'Maybe being from down south, it took me a while to realise that this is the Scottish version of the FA Cup. It's probably the same in size. When I came off and was looking around I was thinking, 'Wow,! I played in this?' I'm just grateful for the opportunity.'
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Spurs loanee argues Aberdeen won cup because they wanted it more
He more than made up for not being there yesterday afternoon, though, during the Dons' emotional open-topped bus parade through the streets of the Granite City with the Scottish Cup trophy. 'I obviously watched the Tottenham one the other day,' he said, 'A few of my mates were there and they said it was crazy. It would have been nice to experience that. But the Aberdeen one was just crazy too. 'There were so many people there, it was absolutely packed. I know it's been a long time since we've won this competition and hopefully we've given back to the fans and the city.' Read more: Dorrington, who was immense at the back during the cup final victory over Celtic at Hampden on Saturday, is unsure if he will be boarding the Aberdeen or the Spurs team bus next season. But the 20-year-old is open-minded about his next move. 'Obviously, I love the city, the club, the staff and the players,' he said. 'I love Tottenham as well. They're kind of in charge of what I do. I'd be grateful if Aberdeen came back in for me, but it's all in Tottenham's hands.' The England Under-19 internationalist, who has been a player at the Premier League club since he was 13 and who made his first team debut for them against Southampton back in December, revealed that Spurs officials had been in constant contact with him since he moved north and had been delighted at the success which he enjoyed. 'They've kept in touch the whole time,' he said. 'On Friday night and before the game, they were messaging me good luck. I think some of them watched the game. It's nice to know that I have the support from Tottenham and nice to know that I have the support from Aberdeen as well.' Dorrington was unfortunate to put treble-chasing Celtic in front at Hampden on Saturday – a Cameron Carter-Vickers header at an Arne Engels corner glanced off his back and went into his own net off the inside of the post just before half-time. But the defender, who had little difficulty adapting to manager Jimmy Thelin's new 3-4-3 formation, was always convinced that Aberdeen could recover from the setback and prevail in the Scottish Gas-sponsored competition for the first time in 35 years. (Image: Jane Barlow - PA Wire) 'I was marking my man and looking at him,' he said. 'At the last minute last minute, I think it took a nick off someone. But I thought we were comfortable even though we were 1-0 down. 'They dominated the ball and got a lot of crosses in. But we felt comfortable all the time and trusted what the gaffer said. It may have seemed a bit hectic, but it just felt really comfortable.' 'You can talk about systems and formations and tactics. But I think it's just who wants it more, to be honest. Some of the boys are putting their bodies on the line, cramping up and still playing on. It just shows how much it means to us. 'There's always a chance in a game of football. They're Celtic. We had to respect them, but I don't think we ever feared them. Maybe the people not giving us a chance gave us a bit more motivation to win and prove them wrong. Read more: 'I think we all just knew that it was our last game together as a group. People might move on. Obviously, for me, I knew this was the last game of my loan. I tried to go out with a bang. 'There was a lot of emotions in the game, but you have to stay emotionless. You've got a job to do. When you do your job, it gives you a chance. Obviously, like I said, a lot of people were doubting us. One per cent is still a chance. Anything can happen in the game of football.' Wherever Dorrington ends up in future, he will always look back on his time with Aberdeen with great fondness as well as gratitude that he was able to take part in such a historic triumph. 'When I first came here, I wasn't really starting, but I think that's another learning thing,' he said. 'You have to support the boys when you're not playing. I was grateful for their trust in me and for the experiences I've gained. I'll never forget the state of them at the end of the final. 'I don't even know how many people there were there on Saturday. Around 50,000? When you're in the game, you obviously feel it, but you don't really recognise how big of an occasion it is. 'Maybe being from down south, it took me a while to realise that this is the Scottish version of the FA Cup. It's probably the same in size. When I came off and was looking around I was thinking, 'Wow,! I played in this?' I'm just grateful for the opportunity.'
The National
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Graeme Shinnie on captaining two Scottish Cup winning teams
'I knew if I did it today that I'd be the first captain to win the Scottish Cup with two clubs,' said Shinnie, who was the skipper when Inverness Caledonian triumphed against Falkirk back in 2015. 'To make this sort of history, it's a very overwhelming feeling.' The former Scotland internationalist and his team mates, though, were never daunted by the prospect of playing their treble-chasing opponents in the denouement of the Scottish Gas-sponsored competition and always believed they could upset the odds and give their supporters a day to remember. He stressed that he was fully in favour of manager Jimmy Thelin – who abandoned his usual 4-2-3-1 formation and switched to a 3-4-3 set-up – changing his tactics and firmly believed the bold switch would reap rich rewards. Read more: 'Everyone wrote us off and maybe rightly so,' said Shinnie. 'We've tried to play our own way in the games against Celtic and it hasn't worked. The manager's got a style of playing that he wants. But we knew in this game we had to try to do something different. We've done that, we gave ourselves a chance and it's paid off. 'It was very brave of the manager to change his tactics. But I think it's good management. I think it's what we needed. It's what a lot of people probably thought was needed. We needed to be harder to beat. We wanted to make it hard for them. 'The first half was disappointing because we defended so well. We didn't have a shot, but they didn't have much either. Then you concede from a set-piece, which is disappointing. But when you win you don't care how the game's gone or how you played. 'It's what you want in football. You want to leave a legacy. You want people to remember you. I've had a lot of opportunities to win silverware and I haven't managed to do it. But I've never shied away from it, it's what I want. 'Coming into this one I thought this could be my last to try and make it work. Now I don't have to worry anymore about winning in the future. I still want more. I still would love to win more, but I could retire tonight and be happy.' Aberdeen, who fell behind shortly before half-time when Alfie Dorrington inadvertently turned a Cameron Carter-Vickers' header into his own net, came back into the game when Thelin put on Dante Polvara, Oday Dabbagh, Pape Habib Gueye and Shayden Morris. They levelled when Kasper Schmeichel turned a Morris cross into his own net. (Image: Jane Barlow - PA Wire) 'That was part of the plan,' said Shinnie. 'Staying in the game, being in the game to the end, and then bringing the firepower on to try to go on and win it. It was maybe a case of trying to get back in the game originally. But then after that we were trying to push on and win. Then we sat in looking for penalties after that.' Shinnie took Aberdeen's first penalty after his Celtic counterpart Callum McGregor had seen Dimitar Mitov save his spot kick - and he buried his attempt from 12 yards confidently. 'In the League Cup final with Inverness in 2014 I took a knock in extra time and I didn't take a pen,' he said. 'Ever since then, I've regretted that. Every time there's been a penalty shootout, I've wanted to go first. I'm the captain of the club. I want to lead. I want to be the one that sets the tune. 'My legs were a bit tired, so I don't know how I found the top corner. But I felt confident going up and taking the pen. I actually had a go at Dimi yesterday because he didn't save a pen while we were practising them. But he's been the hero today.' Bulgarian keeper Mitov sparked wild celebrations in the Aberdeen end of Hampden and back in the Granite City when he denied Alistair Johnston. The victory clinched a place in the Europa League play-off round next season for the Pittodrie club - and guaranteed them European football. Read more: 'That is massive,' said Shinnie. 'It is vitally important. Let's not beat around the bush, we had a really up and down season and we had a really poor end to the season, which put us to fifth. 'That's not the end of the world, but it's not where we felt we should have been. But in football you always get another chance and this was our last chance of the season to make it work. And we've won it.' Shinnie's younger brother Andrew plays for Livingston and will be involved in the second leg of the Premiership play-off final against Ross County in Global Energy Stadium on Monday night. His sibling will not, however, be there cheering him on. 'I told Andrew before the game he might see me in Dingwall,' he said. 'But he won't anymore. They've got a good chance as well. I'll be cheering them on. I don't know where from, but I'll be cheering them on. 'The city will be bouncing tomorrow. Aberdeen fans have waited a long time for the Scottish Cup, 35 years or whatever it is. They deserve it. They've backed us through a rocky season.'
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Graeme Shinnie on captaining two Scottish Cup winning teams
The former Scotland internationalist and his team mates, though, were never daunted by the prospect of playing their treble-chasing opponents in the denouement of the Scottish Gas-sponsored competition and always believed they could upset the odds and give their supporters a day to remember. He stressed that he was fully in favour of manager Jimmy Thelin – who abandoned his usual 4-2-3-1 formation and switched to a 3-4-3 set-up – changing his tactics and firmly believed the bold switch would reap rich rewards. Read more: 'Everyone wrote us off and maybe rightly so,' said Shinnie. 'We've tried to play our own way in the games against Celtic and it hasn't worked. The manager's got a style of playing that he wants. But we knew in this game we had to try to do something different. We've done that, we gave ourselves a chance and it's paid off. 'It was very brave of the manager to change his tactics. But I think it's good management. I think it's what we needed. It's what a lot of people probably thought was needed. We needed to be harder to beat. We wanted to make it hard for them. 'The first half was disappointing because we defended so well. We didn't have a shot, but they didn't have much either. Then you concede from a set-piece, which is disappointing. But when you win you don't care how the game's gone or how you played. 'It's what you want in football. You want to leave a legacy. You want people to remember you. I've had a lot of opportunities to win silverware and I haven't managed to do it. But I've never shied away from it, it's what I want. 'Coming into this one I thought this could be my last to try and make it work. Now I don't have to worry anymore about winning in the future. I still want more. I still would love to win more, but I could retire tonight and be happy.' Aberdeen, who fell behind shortly before half-time when Alfie Dorrington inadvertently turned a Cameron Carter-Vickers' header into his own net, came back into the game when Thelin put on Dante Polvara, Oday Dabbagh, Pape Habib Gueye and Shayden Morris. They levelled when Kasper Schmeichel turned a Morris cross into his own net. (Image: Jane Barlow - PA Wire) 'That was part of the plan,' said Shinnie. 'Staying in the game, being in the game to the end, and then bringing the firepower on to try to go on and win it. It was maybe a case of trying to get back in the game originally. But then after that we were trying to push on and win. Then we sat in looking for penalties after that.' Shinnie took Aberdeen's first penalty after his Celtic counterpart Callum McGregor had seen Dimitar Mitov save his spot kick - and he buried his attempt from 12 yards confidently. 'In the League Cup final with Inverness in 2014 I took a knock in extra time and I didn't take a pen,' he said. 'Ever since then, I've regretted that. Every time there's been a penalty shootout, I've wanted to go first. I'm the captain of the club. I want to lead. I want to be the one that sets the tune. 'My legs were a bit tired, so I don't know how I found the top corner. But I felt confident going up and taking the pen. I actually had a go at Dimi yesterday because he didn't save a pen while we were practising them. But he's been the hero today.' Bulgarian keeper Mitov sparked wild celebrations in the Aberdeen end of Hampden and back in the Granite City when he denied Alistair Johnston. The victory clinched a place in the Europa League play-off round next season for the Pittodrie club - and guaranteed them European football. Read more: 'That is massive,' said Shinnie. 'It is vitally important. Let's not beat around the bush, we had a really up and down season and we had a really poor end to the season, which put us to fifth. 'That's not the end of the world, but it's not where we felt we should have been. But in football you always get another chance and this was our last chance of the season to make it work. And we've won it.' Shinnie's younger brother Andrew plays for Livingston and will be involved in the second leg of the Premiership play-off final against Ross County in Global Energy Stadium on Monday night. His sibling will not, however, be there cheering him on. 'I told Andrew before the game he might see me in Dingwall,' he said. 'But he won't anymore. They've got a good chance as well. I'll be cheering them on. I don't know where from, but I'll be cheering them on. 'The city will be bouncing tomorrow. Aberdeen fans have waited a long time for the Scottish Cup, 35 years or whatever it is. They deserve it. They've backed us through a rocky season.'
