While the Aberdeen team bus started the trip from an hour back to the north after a defeat in Tannadice during the last weekend of the Premiership season, there were many who wondered if it had a lot to do the trip a week later on the way to the Scottish Cup final.
That loss was the fourth side of Jimmy Thelin, had suffered the twist, their sad run after the split she saw down the league table to finish in fifth place.
They had sent 12 goals in the process and only scored twice. With Celtic Accounting for five of those in the recent midweek competition in Pittodrie, the so far of five games in five games with the Parkhead Men this season was 19-4.
Constructing an argument in front of Thelin who somehow pulled a rabbit out of the hat was a tough task to say the least.
The truth is told, it was not only experts, former players and luminaires who called Radio-call-ins who had Celtic as nailed to Hampden. Most of the huge down support that traveled to Glasgow did this more in hope than expected. Nothing of this sound was lost with the Thelin players. They might have been tempted to put fingers in their ears to avoid it all in case it took their self -confidence further.
Instead, they listened carefully and fell in it all. It was fuel for the fire.
“There is always a chance in a football match,” said defender Alfie Dorrington. “They are Celtic. We had to respect them, but I don't think we'll ever fear them.
“Maybe the people who don't give us a chance gave us a little more motivation to win and prove that they are wrong.”
When Dorrington accidentally passed the ball past Dimitar Mitov in the first half, every slender hope that Aberdeen had of causing a upset in smoke seemed. Due to joint permission, Thelin's side could only win the game if they first scored. You felt that there was a real danger that the locks could open. It had happened before.
But despite playing with a back-five for the first time in the living memory, the down did not go into pieces this time. They held their shape, held their nerve, stayed in the game and waited at their moment.
“I marked my husband and looked at him,” Dorrington recalled his own goal. 'At the last minute I think it took someone's Nick, I can't really remember it.
“But I thought we felt comfortable, even though we were one-zero down. They dominated the ball and got a lot of crosses. It may seem a bit hectic, but we always felt comfortable and trusted what the Gaffer said. '
Although Celtic was poor, they were still a constant threat. If the strike of Arne Engels had entered instead of touching the mail, it would certainly have been a game.
However, you had to hand it over to the Thelin players. They played a system that they first worked on last week, they earned their breaks and refused to roll.
“You can think of systems and formations and tactics,” Dorrington offered. “But I think it's just who wants it more, to be honest.
'Some boys put their bodies at stake, cramps and still played further. It just shows how much it meant to us. '
Dorrington could only bring his thoughts over the matter for so long. When he finally succumbed to 11 minutes of the remaining time, the enormous size of what was at stake suddenly became him.
“If you are in the game, you will feel it of course, but you don't really recognize how big an opportunity it is,” he said.
'Maybe from the south, it took me a while to realize that this is the Scottish version of the FA Cup. It is probably the same in size. How many people were there on Saturday – 50,000?
'When I got off, look around, I think, wow, I played in this. I am just grateful for the chance. '
A slow burner of a game eventually became fascinating. Mitov prevented Daizzen Maeda from winning it in 90 minutes before Celtic. Dante Polvara and Jeffrey Schlupp came in extra time within a few centimeters of the same time.
Thelin will be eternally grateful that Mitov still had two hero levels. First he denied Callum McGregor from 12 meters and dived to his right to thwart Alistair Johnston and win the cup.
The loan from Dorrington from Tottenham meant that he was not part of the Europa League Victory Parade in North Londs. That's why he can just live with that.
“I know it was a long time ago that we won this competition and hopefully we gave the fans and the city back,” said the defender. 'Of course I viewed the Tottenham one the other day. A few of my friends were there, they said it was crazy.
'They have kept in touch all the time. Especially on Friday evening and before the game they were just sent me a message.
I think some of them have looked at the game.
'It's just nice to know that I have the support of Tottenham and nice to know that I also have the support of Aberdeen.
'It would have been nice to experience that bus parade, but the Aberdeen was also just crazy. It made it more than good. There were so many people there – it was packaged. '
He is not sure if the final was his last game in a red shirt. If that is the way it happens, it is a reminder to cherish his days. And you suspect that the many doubters will not soon forget.
'I clearly knew that this was the last game of my loan. I tried to go out with a bang, “said Dorrington. At only 20, and with another four years to walk his contract, Tottenham may see the value in him that continues his football development in Aberdeen.
'There were many emotions in the game, but you have to remain emotionless. You have a job to do. If you do your work, this gives you a chance. One percent is still a chance. Everything can happen in the football game.
'I clearly love the city, I love the club, the staff, the players. I also love Tottenham. They are in charge of what I do.
“I would be grateful if Aberdeen came back for me, but it's all in the hands of Tottenham.”