Derek McInnes is confident that Aberdeen can build on their success this season and provide a stronger challenge to Celtic next season. The Dons have enjoyed their best season for over 20 years, finishing as Premiership runners-up and reaching the League Cup semi-finals, but McInnes is setting his sights higher for the next campaign. McInnes said: "Obviously I am pleased because of the consistency the players have shown. We have been back playing since the 12 June last year because of the European preliminary rounds so it's been a long demanding season for the players. Naturally I am pleased with the effort the players have shown and the number of points we have amassed. To have taken the title race to May is no mean feat and the players deserve great credit. They have competed well in all competitions. It is just disappointing that we do not have a trophy to show for it. I have every confidence we can improve on that next year."
Aberdeen mounted a spirited challenge to Celtic's hegemony this term but ultimately the four league games against the title holders - and four defeats - proved too much of a handicap to overcome. McInnes said: "We managed to beat Celtic a couple of times last year but were not as consistent against other teams - so the secret is to be able to do both. We feel we can compete with any team but the four times we played Celtic this season were obviously significant results. You have to give Celtic credit. They have shown consistency and they were able to recruit significantly in January. Without that, it might have been a little bit closer. I always said that it was Celtic's league to lose and I was just being pragmatic about that. We are always motivated to keep improving and try to get a better points total than the previous season and I think we managed to achieve that. But it is always a difficult challenge with the vast difference in resources but it is one that we are prepared to meet head on. With the players that we have and the players that we're hoping to bring in, I am confident we can improve again and that will be our target next season."