The Dons were denied an extra-time spot kick due to an earlier foul while Hart saved Duncan's spot-kick in the shoot-out.
Aberdeen’s agonising Scottish Cup semi-final defeat proved they are ready to hit new heights under incoming boss Jimmy Thelin .
But Leven has no doubts the players can rise to the challenge as they await the arrival of highly-rated Swedish coach Thelin from Elfsborg this summer. “I told them at the end of the game, that’s the standards for them now,” said Leven who gather the Dons squad in a post-match huddle while Celtic celebrated. “Pick your heads up for five massive league games. We refresh and we go again on Monday. Jimmy texted me last night wishing us good luck. I presume he’ll have been watching.
“I’m so proud of them. They all gave everything. It’s close on our 50th game of the season because we were in Europe and some of them haven’t been involved in that many before. “When I took over at first, we went toe to toe with Celtic at Pittodrie and drew 1-1, so I knew what was possible. “The boys have responded well to me from the off. There’s always been desire here, but inconsistency has killed us in the league. In the cups, we’ve been fantastic.”
Celtic FC Cameron Carter-Vickers Bojan Miovski Ester Sokler Scottish Cup Hampden Park Jimmy Thelin
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