Fired-up Killian Phillips is determined to give the Aberdeen supporters another big day out at Hampden.
The Dons host Kilmarnock on Saturday searching for some positivity following a difficult run of form in 2024. They have won just twice this year and languish third-bottom in the Scottish Premiership, a position Phillips knows Aberdeen shouldn't be in.
Phillips, 21, arrived at Pittodrie just days before Barry Robson was axed and then replaced by English veteran Neil Warnock in the Aberdeen dugout. But despite the whirlwind start, the Crystal Palace loanee has admitted he's adapted well to the changes.
He said: “Off the park I have enjoyed my time at the club so far. The boys have been very good with me and helped me settle in. The gaffer has been very good to work with.
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“The results have been tough, very tough. It is not where Aberdeen Football Club should be. We should be looking up the table and not down. But these things happen in football. You go on bad runs and it is up to the players to rectify the situation.
“In difficult situations you need to stick together and we have a very close-knit group here. It hurts, it hurts in the dressing room when you lose football games. It hurts a lot.
“But we have a good group and we stick together. There is a lot of quality in the dressing room, some real talent. I believe we will turn it around.
“It has been tough but we can’t change the past. We must focus on what is ahead and that is a massive cup game. It is a chance to get to a semi-final and a big day out at Hampden.
“Momentum changes so quickly in football, one win can change everything. We must look forward.”
Aberdeen fell to an agonising defeat against St Mirren last time out, with the Buddies scoring a quick-fire double in second half stoppage time to clinch all three points.
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Phillips confesses it left a sour taste in his mouth, however, he is going to do all he can to give the Red Army something to cheer about by securing a Scottish Cup semi-final spot.
The Irishman recalled: “Saturday was incredibly tough to take. Everyone was hurt after the game. The bus on the way back up the road was very quiet.
“It is gutting because defensively we were near perfect up until the 90 minute. The two goals were a kick in the teeth.
“All you can do is come in on a Monday and work as hard as you possibly can in training. We have been doing that all week. The players are the only ones who can turn this around.
“Saturday is a one-off game. Sometimes cup games break up the league fixtures. There has to a be a winner on the day and we will be looking for it to be us.”
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