Source: Team_Talk
Calderwood relishing Pars return
The Dons will have to make it through an awkward quarter-final against Calderwood's former side if they are to reach the last four.[LNB]The Aberdeen manager has required a police escort on previous returns to his old stomping ground but insists he is looking forward to the trip back to East End Park this time around.[LNB]"I had a wonderful time there and that sort of thing is just what happens in football," he said.[LNB]"It will be great to go back to the old stadium and see it full again. Jimmy Nicholl and I had a great time at Dunfermline. It turned a bit sour at the end, which was a shame, but it was a wonderful part of my career.[LNB]"But this game is not about Jimmy Calderwood, it is about Aberdeen Football Club trying to get into the next round of the Scottish Cup."[LNB]One of the highlights of Calderwood's managerial career was leading the Pars to a fourth-placed finish in the league and a place in the Scottish Cup final in his last season in charge before he moved north to the Granite City.[LNB]Calderwood is now firmly focused on ending Aberdeen's long wait for Scottish Cup glory.[LNB]The Dons have not won the trophy since 1990 and came painfully close to ending that dismal run last year when they were defeated 4-3 by Queen of the South in the semi-final stage.[LNB]"We got to the semi-final last year and blew it," Calderwood said.[LNB]"It would be great to get to the semi-final again and then cheer the fans up by getting to the final. Winning the cup is also the shortest route for us if we want to get back playing European football next season.[LNB]"We still have a very difficult game on our hands as, with the squad of players Dunfermline have, they really should be in the SPL."[LNB]However Calderwood's charges will be buoyed by the massive travelling support that is heading south to cheer them on.[LNB]More than 5,000 Aberdeen fans are expected to make the trip to Fife for Saturday's crunch encounter.[LNB]"It is amazing that so many of them are going down the road," said Calderwood.[LNB]"The Dunfermline players will also get a lift from that. We can't underestimate Dunfermline because they have a squad full of good pros with a lot of SPL experience.[LNB]"We have to got to go there and do a job and hopefully it will be enough on the day."[LNB]A major talking point for the Red Army that will descend en masse at East End Park on Saturday will be whether Richard Foster makes the squad.[LNB]The full-back has been axed from the past two Aberdeen matches following a training-ground bust-up with Calderwood.[LNB]And the Dons boss was remaining tight-lipped over whether the player would be included tomorrow.[LNB]"Richard is still an Aberdeen player," he added. "We shall see if he is in the squad this weekend."[LNB][LNB]
