GRAEME SHINNIE insists there is “no point even turning up” at Hampden on Sunday to face Celtic if Aberdeen are to repeat the performance that saw them hammered 3-0 by Motherwell at the weekend.
The Pittodrie outfit had the worst possible preparation for the Betfred League Cup Final as they toppled in spectacular fashion at Fir Park.
The devastated Dons skipper and his team-mates were run ragged at Fir Park as their four-game winning run came crashing to an abrupt halt.
Shinnie admitted: “I go on all the time about trying to build on clean sheets and good defensive performances.
“We gifted goals and it wasn’t good enough right throughout the team.
“We need to be harsh on each other, especially after games like that and with a game like next week coming up.
“It’s not good enough. We will deal with it again on Monday and go over it and make sure we don’t have a recurrence next week.
“Hopefully, we can’t be as bad as we were. But we need to evaluate it and make sure it doesn’t happen, have a good training week, and look to really bounce back and put on a lot better performance in a Cup Final.
THAT SINKING FEELING…Joe Lewis and his Dons defenders are in disarray as James Forrest celebrates his goal in the 3-0 Betfred League Cup Final triumph in November 2016. Pic: Geo.
“If we play anywhere near like we did there, then there’s no point even turning up.
“We’ll have a tough week in terms of getting back to basics and having a good look in the mirror, and then we’ll go again next week.”
The Dons are hoping it’s third time lucky when they face Brendan Rodgers all-conquering heroes at the national stadium on this occasion.
The Irishman won his first piece of silverware as Celtic manager two seasons ago when goals from Tom Rogic, James Forrest and Moussa Dembele (pen) gave them a 3-0 triumph in the same competition.
And it didn’t get any better for Derek McInnes’ Pittodrie outfit in the Scottish Cup Final later in the campaign, despite taking an early lead through Jonny Hayes, who is now at Parkhead, of course.
Stuart Armstrong wiped out that strike shortly afterwards and, after half-an-hour or so of sustained pressure, Aussie international Rogic stroked in the well-deserved stoppage-time winner to complete the domestic treble.
Rodgers and his players repeated the silverware clean sweep last term and Sunday could see the start of a remarkable treble treble.
