Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin says his side “don’t think too much” about their last meeting with Celtic as the sides prepare to lock horns in the League Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
The Dons have started the season in blistering form and are unbeaten in the 16 games they have played in all competitions, winning 15.
That lengthy run includes a pulsating 2-2 draw with Celtic last month, a match that saw Thelin’s side come back from two goals down to secure a point at Parkhead.
“We don’t think too much about the last game,” Thelin said. “It is a new game, it is a cup game, so for us it is just to prepare for this specific game and not thinking about the last game we played against them.
“Of course I can imagine Brendan [Rodgers] and Celtic learned things about us and we also learned things about them, but then it is more to respect their qualities and find the weakness. We have to prepare ourselves for this game on Saturday.
“We know what they are good at, we know their strengths, for us it is more about trying to be even better in our parts of the game, have a strong belief in what we are going to do and keep working on that.
“It is a cup game. It is winning or losing and we have to have a strong belief in what we are doing as usual. Brendan is a good coach, Celtic are a good team but also we know the situation, it is a semi-final so we have to prepare for that one.”
As well as taking points off Celtic last month, Aberdeen defeated third-place Rangers 2-1 at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.
Does having that knowledge that they are capable of getting the job done hold them in good stead for Saturday’s trip to the national stadium?
“We talk more about preparing ourselves and believing in what we are doing,” Thelin added. “It is a football game, you always to have to respect the opponent but believe in our identity.
“The team spirit is really strong, that is what we are working with.”