Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has urged his side to create their own piece of history in the UEFA Cup when Bayern Munich return to Pittodrie.Sir Alex Ferguson led the Dons to a famous win over the Bundesliga giants on their way to their 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup success.
Those were trophy-laden days for the club and the current side are playing in European competition for the first time in five years.
But the season's run to the last 32 has given Calderwood hope of another famous result ahead of their first-leg meeting with the German outfit.
He was further boosted today with the news that injury doubts Zander Diamond, Darren Mackie, Barry Nicholson and Andrew Considine are available.
"Wherever you look here you see the history of the great times under Sir Alex," Calderwood said. "I was at Dunfermline and saw photos of Jock Stein everywhere. I should pick an easier one next time.
"You never match the achievements but you always try to make your own bit of history. If we can draw with Bayern, or even beat Bayern, then we can make a bit of our own."
Calderwood is still without the injured Derek Young, Jackie McNamara, Jamie Smith, Richard Foster and Richie Byrne, but the spirits have been lifted by the quartet who have declared themselves fit.
Calderwood said: "We are still missing five big players for us but getting those players back was massive.
"It was always going to be very, very difficult but without nine first-team players nigh on impossible. But they are fit and it brings everyone else up."
After his preparations in the early part of the week were badly affected by the number of injuries, Calderwood now has to fine-tune his plan to stop Bayern.
"That's the million dollar question," he said.
"They are a fabulous side with about 1,000 caps between them for different international teams - Germany, Holland, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil.
"They are probably the favourites to win the tournament but big teams have lost in the past - good teams have off days."
Aberdeen have had off days themselves in recent weeks - and have conceded nine goals in their last two games against Celtic and Dundee United.
But Calderwood can take heart from their performances at Pittodrie in the UEFA Cup this season.
They drew with Dnipro in the first round and with Lokomotiv Moscow in the group stages, which they emerged from thanks to a stunning 4-0 win over Copenhagen.
"If we defend like we have been doing for most of the season, apart from the European games, then we are going to get hammered," Calderwood added.
"But European games are different, the whole atmosphere. You are allowed to make four or five mistakes - in a league game you are only allowed half a mistake.
"The fans stay with you and stay positive. They know how mammoth the task is and they pull you through. Dnipro started to dominate a bit but we got through it.
"We did wonderfully well against Copenhagen, Moscow we should have beaten and Dnipro were a fabulous team and we knocked them out.
"We have got the favourites now but we have nothing whatsoever to lose."
And while the city of Aberdeen finds itself seduced by the romance of the cup again, the Dons boss will not forget about Mrs Calderwood on Valentine's Day.
"If we win, she might get flowers," he joked.
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