Aberdeen supporters should take real pride from the fact the Dons remain the last club to beat Real Madrid in a European final.
I’m very proud of that and so too are my team-mates from that night in Gothenburg in 1983.
Aberdeen derailed the Real Madrid juggernaut in a European final and no other team has done it since.
Liverpool’s 1-0 Champions League final loss to Real Madrid on Saturday maintained that record.
Not only did we beat the Spanish giants we did it extremely convincingly.
Even though it was a tight affair that went to extra-time in terms of football Aberdeen were by far the better team.
That no other team has beaten Real Madrid in a European final since underlines the magnitude of what we achieved in 1983.
Real Madrid are a winning machine in terms of European finals.
The fact their record is so supreme in European finals makes it all the more sweeter for Aberdeen.
Real Madrid were still lifting European trophies when we beat them under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson.
They won two UEFA Cups back to back in 1985 and 86 not long after we defeated them in Gothenburg.
It is remarkable to think that since we lifted the European Cup Winnner’s Cup no other club has inflicted a Euro final defeat on Real Madrid.
Clubs like Liverpool, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid have all tried and failed.
Real Madrid have contested eight Champions League finals and two UEFA Cup finals since facing the Dons – and won them all.
Aberdeen’s record is very rarely mentioned because it was done by a Scottish provincial club.
It is something Aberdeen should always treasure, even if Real Madrid do eventually lose a final in a European competition.
Liverpool were very unfortunate to lose in the Champions League final at the weekend.
I thought they were by far the better team on the night in Paris.
However sometimes it takes more than being the better team.
It can take experience and knowing how to win those games.
That’s where Real Madrid have been at this season. They know how to get things over the line in huge finals like that.
After the disappointment of that Champions League final defeat national captain Andy Robertson must lead out Scotland in the World Cup play-offs.
I have no doubt Liverpool left-back Robertson will be completely focused and there will be no hangover from that final defeat.
Emotions will have to be put aside in tomorrow’s game against Ukraine
Scotland’s play-off semi-final against Ukraine at Hampden tomorrow is one where emotions will have to be put aside.
We all feel tremendous sympathy for Ukraine.
However that has to be put aside for the match at Hampden.
The fans at the game deserve 100 percent effort, concentration and determination from Scotland to win.
All focus must be on securing victory to set up a play-off final with Wales in Cardiff on Sunday.
You have to try to take emotion out of the game and focus on what is at stake – a place in the World Cup finals.
It has been 24 years now since Scotland last played at a World Cup.
Generations have missed out on seeing Scotland at that tournament and this is a fantastic opportunity to end that drought.
Players have to put everything else out of their mind and focus on setting up that play-off with Wales.
There is a lot of pressure and expectation on Scotland players as they know the nation is relying on them to produce the goods.
The best way to cope with that is to embrace it.
This group of Scotland players have dealt with pressure before and managed to qualify for the Euro 2020 finals.
Scotland experienced intense pressure in the Euro play-off final when it went down to a penalty shoot-out with Serbia.
They held their nerve to win the shoot-out so that steeliness is in the make up of this team.
Scotland players are all performing at an extremely high level for their clubs and are living with expectation day to day.
They are seasoned professionals who are going to be asked to finish the job.
On past evidence, there is a lot of trust there that they can handle the pressure.
These players must grab the opportunity to play on the highest stage in world football.
If they can qualify for the World Cup it would be a magnificent achievement.
Playing in the World Cup is the stuff of dreams.
It is what young kids dream about when they are starting out in the game.
Now it is within touching distance for this group of Scotland players.
Ramadani must be first of many
Hopefully, Albanian international midfielder Ylber Ramadani will be the start of a summer influx of new signings for Aberdeen.
It is understood the Dons have reached an agreement to sign the 26-year-old from MTK Budapest.
Ramadani has been playing in the Hungarian top flight and will arrive as an unknown.
We won’t really know the qualities and strengths Ramadani can bring to Aberdeen until we see him in action.
However he has been capped 17 times by Albania at international level.
Ramadani has also played in the Danish top flight.
Aberdeen supporters have to put their trust in the set-up at the club.
To have the faith that chairman Dave Cormack, manager Jim Goodwin, Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray and Director of Football Steven Gunn will bring quality players to Pittodrie.
Chairman Cormack has stated that everything is in place for the club to scour Europe for talent.
Although Hungary is not one of the top nations in Europe to play at the top division in any association you expect the standard to be high.
That quality is needed at Aberdeen next season and it is needed in numbers.
A 10th placed finish is unacceptable with the budget, resources and structure Aberdeen have.
Securing Ramadani will hopefully be the start of the journey over the summer transfer window to unearth quality at an affordable rate.
And to then perform at a top level.
Next season must be far better than the one which recently concluded.
McKenna delivers a welcome boost
Hopefully, the vast majority of Aberdeen’s £1m cash boost for Scott McKenna earning promotion will go towards strengthening the first team.
Aberdeen will reportedly receive a welcome £1m boost due to Pittodrie Youth Academy graduate McKenna winning promotion to the English top flight with Nottingham Forest.
Scotland international defender McKenna won the play-off final at Wembley with Nottingham Forest.
The 1-0 win on Sunday earned Forest a spot in the Premier League.
McKenna transferred to Nottingham Forest for £3m in September 2020.
Now he is in the top flight and Aberdeen will receive a welcome financial boost.
Obviously some of that has to go towards supporting the club’s development programme going forward.
But hopefully a big chunk will be used towards strengthening the first team squad.
I remember McKenna when he was a young player trying to make his way at Aberdeen.
To see him now develop into an English Premier League player is brilliant for McKenna, his family and Aberdeen.
It is great for Neil Simpson and the Aberdeen Youth Development team.
McKenna has progressed through the club’s youth system to become an international and reach the English top flight.
He will also have a strong chance of starting for Scotland in tomorrow’s World Cup play-off against Ukraine with Kieran Tierney being out.
It could be a very exciting week for the defender.
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