After the Dons marched into the Scottish Cup final, Jimmy Thelin revealed just how last week’s game with Rangers helped his side find the right result at Hampden.

“Hearts started the game really well and we were a little bit under pressure, but things were level. Then of course, the red card helps a little bit to get more calmness in the team, but we also know by experience last week that that when a team gets one man down, there’s less space to play in and it’s quite difficult. Also, a counter-attack can happen against you or a set piece, so you have to be really concentrated, and we learned some lessons from the Rangers game.

“Today, the players keep their patience. We don’t force things, we believe in what we’re doing and play more. We keep pushing and adding fresh players, the subs come in and give energy and finally we found this extra punch to win the game.

“We have players with different abilities. Oday is a really good box player and you see in training and in some of the goals he scored before, he’s always there for a rebound, so we know he has the qualities. But we also have to deliver the balls to help him to score these goals.

“You can hear after the game now, with all the supporters and the players and all the staff, we are so connected. We wanted this so much and so for me it means a lot and now we have to try to do the best to win it. If you’re a manager or a player you don’t have so many chances in your career to arrive to big finals or fight in the top of the league, so you have to also enjoy it.

“A final is more than the football, it’s emotions, it’s expectations, it’s all the thing around it, and that’s why cup games are so difficult. You have to manage emotions and the best way to learn that is to live it and try to be there as many times as possible.

“We know what it means to the club to win the final and we will try our best but at least now we are put us in a good position. We are there, so that’s the first thing and then we have to take the fight with us for the game next month.

“But there are big league games to play before this. We always have focus on the next game and our own performance and try to grow as a squad because you need a squad. It’s a long season, many games and so we have more alternatives and when we get some injuries, we can still compete in a good way. I think we have grown slowly but hopefully this can help us in the last six games we have to be really focused on the right things.”