Jimmy Thelin admitted he was taken aback by the sheer amount of Aberdeen fans who cheered the open-top bus tour of the city following the club’s stunning Scottish Cup final win over Celtic.
There were over 20,000 Dons fans inside Hampden to see their side win a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes.
It was Aberdeen’s first Scottish Cup win in 35 years and it also guaranteed European group stage football next season, and thousands lined the streets of the Granite City yesterday to see them parade the trophy.
Thelin, in his first season as Pittodrie boss, said: ‘It’s been actually a bit unbelievable. It’s much bigger than I thought.
‘We talk about why we do it, and it’s for them to enjoy and be proud of the city and all people around Aberdeen and who belong to Aberdeen Football Club.
‘It’s been an amazing two days and it’s going to take a while to let it sink in and get all the feelings and just to summarise everything that’s happened. It’s an amazing time.
Manager Thelin takes pride of place at the head of the celebrations during yesterday’s parade
Aberdeen’s open-top bus slowly makes its way through a throng of delighted supporters
The streets of Aberdeen are a sea of red as the city comes to a standstill to salute its heroes
‘We are here to do everything we can do to put a smile on the faces and travelling around the city on the bus was actually unbelievable, how many people were here.
‘I didn’t expect that, so it’s incredible. We have to enjoy this now.’
Dons chief executive Alan Burrows described the cup-winning weekend and subsequent scenes of celebration as an ‘emotional’ experience.
He said: ‘You just see from the scenes today the amount of people that’s been out in the city. It’s a fantastic achievement for the players to be able to go and do that.
‘I don’t think many people gave us a chance but I think you see from the crowds and the joy that it’s brought, just what this club’s got and the potential that it’s got to unlock.
‘So a really emotional time for everybody, but a really enjoyable time and one we are going to savour before we look to the hard job of next season and beyond.’
Dons defender Mats Knoester claimed that lifting the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen was an even bigger achievement than winning the league title in Hungary.
The Dutchman joined from Ferencvaros in January, having won the Hungarian top division two years ago.
However, after completing his own career double by being part of Thelin’s victorious team at Hampden, the 26-year-old felt Saturday’s victory on penalties was the pinnacle of his career.
‘This one is the best by far. 100 per cent,’ said Knoester. ‘It’s better than winning the league because it means more.
‘At Ferencvaros, you have to win every year but here you can see it has been so long. It’s more emotional.
Aberdeen defender Knoester (centre) celebrates shoot-out gory with Dabbagh and Morris
‘It’s hard to put into words. I think you should just look around you and take it all in. It’s a lot to describe what has happened.’
The Dutchman was the most relieved man inside Hampden as Dimitar Mitov dived to his right to keep out Alistair Johnston’s spot-kick to spark wild scenes of jubilation on the red side of the stadium.
‘I was the last one,’ he revealed. ‘I was ready but Dimi saved it, so it was all good. Of course, I gave him the biggest hug afterwards.
‘My penalties were good in the practice, so I had confidence, but it’s nicer if you can finish it earlier. The earlier the better.’
