Killie eye Hampden return as McInnes puts ‘demand’ to win on struggling premiership side
"We should be putting the demand on ourselves to go and win the cup."
Last updated 10th Mar 2023
A second trip to Hampden could be in stall for East Ayrshire’s Kilmarnock FC tonight if they manage a victory over mid-table championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Kilmarnock are without a win since their last Scottish Cup outing in February, with defeat and draws plaguing the new premiership outfit for the past four league games.
However, it’s a case of putting a pin in the league form for McInnes and his squad as they hope to put a return to the national stadium on their list of this season’s achievements and the gaffer is looking to go even further by saying the club need to put a ‘demand on ourselves’ to win the entire tournament.
"We should be putting the demand on ourselves to go and win the cup."
The Rugby Park boss is telling West FM he hopes there previous run in the league cup and eventual defeat to Celtic in the semi-final can allow his players to use the experience to their advantage.
He said: “I spoke to the players after the semi-final defeat to Celtic in the league cup and we all said the belief must be to come back to Hampden and go one further and at the very least get to the final and have the objective to try and win the cup.
"To do that you need to win some tough games and Friday against Inverness will be no different.
“They’ve got good players that play at a good level, and it is important we recognise their strengths while at the same time not forgetting our own and this opportunity of another quarter final win.
“We don’t want to just be happy getting to a semi-final. We’re a premier league club and I think we should be putting the demand on ourselves to go and win the cup.
“But you can only prove that demand publicly by going and dealing with what is in front you, and Inverness might have been happy with this draw but so are we and it’s a massive opportunity for both teams.”
Kick off for the Scottish Cup Quarter Final is at 7:45pm tonight at the Caledonian stadium, and will be broadcast live on BBC Scotland.