Walter Smith: Derek McInnes could boss Rangers but Dons come first

Walter Smith has told the Aberdeen management and players that they must not be scared of the pressure of battling Celtic for the title.

Smith knows exactly what’s involved when it comes to lifting a championship as he led Rangers to 10 of them and was assistant manager to Jim McLean at Dundee United when they triumphed in 1983.

So, he sampled how tense it can be in the role of a favourite and an underdog.

In public, Dons boss Derek McInnes has played down his side’s chances of becoming champions for the first time since 1985, but Smith is certain they have what it takes to run Ronny Deila’s men all the way.

Smith said: “Aberdeen over the last year or so seemed to have settled down. Stewart Milne deserves credit for putting the financial aspects in order.

“I can honestly see them challenging. The defensive aspect to their game is good, they’ve shown they have the capability of getting a goal and they look to have the right balance.

“Maybe in the early part of this season, and the latter stages of last, there was an imbalance in their attacking and defending. They now have a proper balance.

“Your team must be capable of not performing at their best and still winning. Aberdeen look as though they’ve got that. I don’t think they are set up as defensive at all. But what they’ve done is defend very well there’s a difference.

“Celtic will be there, although they’ve suffered a big bit by Rangers not being there. So if I look at them this season I stress I haven’t seen them much I don’t think they are as good a team as they were two seasons ago.

“They were a far stronger outfit then. Aberdeen will challenge. I’m not going to say they are going to win it but they will challenge.

”The Aberdeen players shouldn’t shy away from it. If you want to win a league you’ve got to accept the challenge.

“Aberdeen have made big strides this year and Scotland needs them to continue to make these strides.

“In Aberdeen’s position, should their expectation not be to win the League? It’s easy to play it down and I hear them all saying we’ll just take this or take that and the next thing.

“I used to say to all the boys at Rangers: That’s why you are here. You are here to win a league championship. You are not here to be second. By playing it down, you give yourself an excuse.”

Smith had McInnes as a player at Rangers and he likes the way he is developing as a young manager. Indeed, it would be no surprise to Smith if McInnes ended up back at Ibrox as manager.

He said: “I don’t think there’s any doubt that he has what it takes to one day be the manager of Rangers. He did very well at St Johnstone, and went to Bristol City.

“When he was there, he had a fair amount of turmoil to deal with. Sometimes disappointment can lead you to re-evaluate. The disappointment, it will always be with you.

“I got sacked from Everton and that doesn’t disappear, it stays with you.

“But he’s back again. He will be more careful where he moves if he moves. Just now, Aberdeen are a terrific club so he’ll be happy to build his career again and cement it by doing well there.”

Walter Smith was speaking at the media launch day of PR company Level 5.