GIVEN the effort it took for Aberdeen to finally get their hands on silverware once more it is perhaps not a surprise they are somewhat reluctant to relinquish their grasp on it.
Nineteen trophyless years had passed by the time Derek McInnes' side lined up against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the final last March and even then the agony wasn't over. Only after 90 minutes, extra-time and then a penalty shoot-out would Aberdeen finally take ownership of the cup. Now it is their intention to hang on to it for as long as possible. Their defence of the trophy has been fairly straightforward to date, a 4-0 third round victory over Livingston followed by a 1-0 win over Hamilton Academical, but it will likely be more taxing this afternoon when they take on Dundee United in the semi-final at Hampden.
"It's very important to us [to try to retain the trophy]," said McInnes. "It feels like our trophy and technically it still is. We'll do all we can to keep it.
"Other teams have won the League Cup in recent seasons but our form in the league has shown we've improved. We're not just a team that can win a cup then nothing else. We've shown through our league form this season and last there's a lot to like about us. I see that improvement and I still think there's more to come from us. Would it mean more this year? It would be the same. Every time you lift the trophy it demonstrates how hard it is to achieve it.
"At our club there was an expectation to go the full way, to get that first trophy in almost 20 years. You see the level of support we had last year - the desperation and need was there. Having played and handled that scenario is good, plus the fact players are a year on, and that they've handled the European campaign and come out with their heads held high."
Aberdeen's success has been built on a brand of football that has been largely pleasing on the eye. That means nothing to McInnes, however, if it is not accompanied by an insatiable will to win.
"It's just about being ready to go to work, being ready to go to war at 3 o'clock," he added. "We all want to play nice football - and we do - but you've got to be a competitive animal too. You can't just be a good player. Winning is the reason we are all out there. I think we've got a good competitive edge to the squad. Plaudits are great but not if you're losing. We're here to win.
"I can't comment on previous teams but we've done well in the cups. We try to bring a cup football [mentality] to our league games. Every game is important to us. In the cup, regardless of whether it's beating Celtic in the Scottish Cup last season or when we're favourites at home, as we were against Livingston, every game is important to us, regardless of crowd or opposition. The players have shown that. We've got a big game on Saturday but it's now second nature to the players and that's how it should be."
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