Any Given Saturday

The great thing about football is that it truly matters, yet in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t. Your team & their performance are pivotal, yet when compared to the world's significant challenges, it might seem insignificant. It's important to maintaining perspective when results don't go our way.

Today is game day and I am both excited and nervous. Excited because we, Aberdeen FC, have a chance to turn around what has been a chaotic season. Let’s be honest; we’ve been inconsistent this year. Our Chairman is passionate and full of great ideas but is still learning and making mistakes along the way. Our Chief Executive is progressive and well-meaning but has yet to leave his mark. Our team has seen managers go, go, go and come back. We've underperformed and are in dire need of solid, long-term leadership. Our fan base, like any other, reflects society: most are supportive, some perpetually dissatisfied, and a few, frankly, are questionable individuals.

Given all this, it's incredible that we find ourselves in a fantastic position today. No one outside our loyal supporters believes we can advance, meaning there’s no pressure from outside. Notably, whether they admit it or not, Celtic thinks they've already won. The club and its players, mostly modest and professional—and their fans, more emphatically—believe they're through. This overconfidence might just work in our favour.

Firstly, it comes down to Peter, the players, and the fans. Today, they can change the season in just one game. They can defeat the top team in Scotland and position themselves to win the ultimate prize in football: silverware. Whatever has happened this season is now in the past. It's not that it doesn’t matter—that would be too simplistic since it does linger in our thoughts and emotions. However, today offers a new opportunity; our team has the chance to redefine their future. Our players are skilled; we have a striker who could walk into any team in Scotland, another with exceptional talent, and yet another who has been patiently waiting to prove himself. We have a midfield that can battle, create, and score, a defence that could stand stronger than ever today, and a goalkeeper capable of making unimaginable saves.

Finally, once the players cross that white line, it's all up to them. The manager can adjust tactics, and the fans can provide their roaring support, but it’s up to this band of brothers on the field and the bench. They need to confront their opponents today and believe, “Today, I am better than you in every way.” They must look them in the eye and declare, “Today, I am your worst nightmare.” They need to run more, tackle intelligently, anticipate faster, and outplay them in every aspect. If the opponents score, our team will respond doubly. The players need to impose their game and shut down the opposition in a way that rips their soul and belief from them.

Today, it’s not just about football. It’s about proving that against all odds, amidst all the turmoil, Aberdeen FC are an outstanding club now, today, and our history is not an albatross, it’s an inspiration. Because today, nothing is going to stop us. We are going through.

This is football. And today, it really matters.

#football #aberdeenfc