Graeme Shinnie demands Aberdeen FC chase Celtic and Rangers as stars told to 'close the gap'

Ambitious Graeme Shinnie not only wants to maintain Aberdeen’s position as Scotland’s third force but also wants to close the gap on Celtic and Rangers.

The Dons won the plaudits last season as Barry Robson’s side finished best of the rest and clinched the golden nugget of guaranteed European football until Christmas. The skipper knows that is the minimum aim for Aberdeen to not only replicate that third place finish but to do well in the cups and also try and put more of a challenge into the big two. Shinnie knows it will be a major challenge because their Euro-chasing rivals, like Hibs and Hearts, have all significantly strengthened and will all have similar ambitions.

“It is tough as Hibs and Hearts will be good this season,” Shinnie admitted. "We want to try to close the gap on the top two if we can as well. All the other teams will be strengthening and trying to make their mark. St Mirren had a great season last time and will be trying to build on that as well. Everyone is trying to get better and stronger.

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“I feel that we are building a good team here again and it is important we work as hard as we can in pre-season so that we are ready. We want to finish high up again and that is only going to happen if we work as hard as we did last season.”

The Dons will also have the added strain of trying to juggle domestic and extended European commitments - something that derailed Hearts last season. Shinnie knows the expectation levels have been cranked up around Pittodrie.

“I suppose there is always pressure,” the gutsy midfielder stated. You see what it has done for us with the excitement of guaranteed