BOJAN MIOVSKI

Bojan Miovski was the Dons’ goalscoring hero at Hampden this afternoon, slotting in his 10^th goal of the campaign to book Aberdeen’s passage it the Viaplay Cup final. The Aberdeen number nine revealed that he always felt one goal would be enough to win the game.

“We showed our mentality to the end, we were concentrated and we believed in ourselves. I’m happy to score a goal but I’m happy because we kept a clean sheet today, that was very important for us. I said in the dressing room at half-time that if we keep a clean sheet, we will be in the final.

“We score a lot of goals from counter-attacks this season and I know that this kind of chance will come. I felt their defenders got a bit tired and I wanted Leighton and Dante to play the ball in behind them for me. I could have scored again but it was a bad mistake with the shot. I apologised to the guys, I need to do it better next time!

“It was great to celebrate with the fans afterwards. We always have good fans home and away, they always support us. I have never had fans like this before. This final is for them and we will do everything to win the trophy for them.”

GRAEME SHINNIE

Aberdeen skipper Graeme Shinnie will have the chance to lead his side out at Hampden once again in December after they defeated Hibs 1-0 in the Viaplay Cup semi-final. Speaking afterwards, he had a word for Jack MacKenzie, sent off in the 74^th minute of the game.

“We win as a team and lose as a team. I got sent off twice in a row last season, so I know it can happen, but then the rest of the boys do what they can to cover for you. If anything, it spurred us on because we weren’t great in the second half until then, but we stuck together and came out on the right side of the result.

“Going down to ten men made it hard, but we knew if we created a chance, we had to take it. Bojan did that and after that, we defended magnificently as a team. Bojan is a top player, and if you wanted that chance to fall to anybody, it was him.”

KELLE ROOS

A fourth clean sheet of the season for Kelle Roos and the Aberdeen defence helped see the Dons through to a December date at Hampden in the Viaplay Cup final. Despite going down to ten men, the Dons kept going to the final whistle in the 99th minute to see off Hibs, Roos pointing to Aberdeen’s character as a key factor.

“It was a tough game but we showed we are committed to the cause, with and without the ball. They played well, but we caused them trouble too, even with ten men.

“We have worked very, very hard to be as fit as we are, and that got us through the last 20 minutes. We know we are committed, fit, disciplined, and that helped us through that period. Everyone needs somebody to remind them that they can keep going and we did that for one another.

“We stick together. Jack made a mistake today with getting his second yellow card. It was a harsh lesson for him and we’ll miss him in the final. Jack plays with his heart on his sleeve and sometimes that can go against you. He digs a lot of people out of problems by being a brilliant defender, and today it was our turn to help him.

“It means everything to be in the final. Silverware is what you play for. We’ve got a very good group but winning a trophy changes everything, you become brothers for life. We have all the ingredients we need to go and win the cup now. But that’s for next month now. Now we have to knuckle down because the games are coming thick and fast.”

RICHARD JENSEN

Danish defender Richard Jensen was thrilled with reaching his first cup final with the Dons, but admitted the celebrations will be muted given he and his colleagues have some unfinished business with PAOK to attend to on Thursday.

“I think we can be very proud, we showed great character today and we have corrected things after the Kilmarnock game last Sunday. We can celebrate tonight on the bus home and then we focus on the game on Thursday. It’s another big game against PAOK, we want revenge in that one and we’re going after it.”

Jensen produced a magnificent saving tackle to deny Youan just a minute after Bojan Miovski had given Aberdeen the lead, Jensen’s intervention symptomatic of a committed defensive display.

“We did everything we could today to keep the clean sheet and we’re very happy with that. That was a big factor in winning the game today, obviously with a great goal from Bojan.

“Reaching a cup final is very exciting. We’ve worked so hard for this. There is still a very long way to go, it will be a very tough game whoever we play in the final.”

Richard Jensen (5) of Aberdeen celebrates progressing to the Final of the Scottish League Cup during the Scottish League Cup semi final match between Hibernian and Aberdeen at Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom on 4 November 2023.

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