McInnes We can’t afford to dream of beating Celtic to the title

Aberdeen fans are entitled to dream about winning the League, according to Derek McInnes.

But ahead of today’s top-of-the-table clash with Celtic, the Dons boss insists no-one inside his camp can afford to do likewise.

McInnes has kept a firm lid on talk of a title challenge all season, restricting himself and his players to a rigid “one game at a time” approach.

A victory at Celtic Park would send his side level on points with the Hoops, but McInnes STILL won’t concede that his team have a chance of winning the Premiership.

Doing so, he believes, would be far too dangerous.

But he accepts that the long-suffering Reds support are under no such restrictions, and while his own feet remain firmly on the ground, he won’t try to keep fans’ heads out of the clouds.

“When you live in a one-club city like Aberdeen, it’s important that you handle winning games AND losing games,” said McInnes.

“You’re never as bad as you are when you lose games, and the criticism can come ten-fold, the same as when you’re winning.

“That’s a supporter’s right, though. The supporters are entitled to dream and be excited about their team and you’ve got to embrace that.

“That’s the way it should be. A lot of supporters have been hoping that this could be a big, big season for us for a long time now.

“But as the professionals at the club we have to make sure we stay focused and do the job.

“If we lose focus, supporters will quickly question what you’re doing rather than being excited.”

After watching their side claim 11 clean-sheet wins from the last 13 games, questioning McInnes’ methods is the last thing on Dons’ fans’ minds.

It’s the last thing on Stewart Milne’s mind too, and McInnes believes his harmonious relationship with the Dons chairman is down to a shared passion to better the club.

“You’ve got to work for people who are keen to improve as well,” he explained.

“I feel as though I am working for a chairman who wants standards to improve, who wants a new stadium, who wants a new training centre, who wants a team of value on the pitch, who wants the city to be excited and fall in love with the team.

“He wants people to come along and watch Aberdeen, not just through blind loyalty but because they actually want to come to the game.

“I feel as though we have upped our game. I don’t think anybody is working harder than us in a lot of departments.

“Our shared commitment is that we just want the club to progress and maximise what we can be.”