The Dons return to European action this Thursday when they host FK Daugava Riga at Pittodrie. Ahead of the game Derek McInnes, Ryan Jack and Barry Robson spoke to the media.

Derek McInnes

“I think the game has been eagerly anticipated. A lot of people have commented on the fact that we’re back early and that it might be seen as a negative going into the first game proper a bit earlier than maybe we have been in the past. But for us it’s something we are all looking forward to. As a city and as club we’ve been without European football the last wee while and I think we’ve all got to be excited by that. Players, staff & support are all looking forward to it. From the players point of view sometimes after 3 or 4 friendly games you’re looking for that first game proper and that’s where we are at the minute. Sometimes you can play too many friendlies. They serve a purpose, to get fit and get familiar with each other again but players want to play competitive football and thankfully that’s what we’ve got on Thursday and we’re looking forward to it.

“We feel well versed on them. We’re familiar with the shape they like to play, it’s a shape which not too many teams in Scotland have played in over the years but it’s a shape they look comfortable in. We’ve done our work on them and we feel we are quite familiar with their players. Our players will know what they need to know. As much as you need to prepare and look at your opponents and study them, I think it will be our own performance that decides whether we get through or not. We have got to concentrate and hopefully bring a performance we are capable of. I think if we do that then we’ll cause this team problems.

“We are confident that the players have come back in good nick- the results would show that. Their energy levels both in training and in the games we’ve played have been really pleasing, their attitude to work and their test results have been good so like I said, I think there comes a point when the boys need to be playing competitive football and by this stage we would normally have played 5 or 6 friendly games. We don’t have the luxury of that this time but looking at them I feel as though we are fit enough to go into this game.”

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Ryan Jack

“There is a real excitement about the squad about playing in Europe. For myself it will be the first time I’ve done it so I’m excited and the squad is excited. We’ve had our pre-season games and our camp so we’re ready and looking forward to it.

“We’ve been scoring a lot of goals [in pre-season] and we’ve not been conceding a lot so it’s been good so far but it’s going to be a tough on Thursday and it’s important we take our form into that and do a job.

“It’s a challenge we are looking forward to and seeing where it can take us. We are just going to take one game at a time but you never know where it might take us. We’ll concentrate on this match first.”

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Barry Robson

“The preparation has been as good we could have had it- it’s been excellent. We now have to go on and make sure that we turn in a good performance against this team.

“The manager’s had them watched, we’ve got some video analysis so we don’t take anything lightly at this football club- everything’s done to a standard and we have to go out and play to a certain standard to match that.”

“It’s credit to them [the fans]. I’m a great believer in giving them a break over the summer, especially for their money- and we haven’t had much of a break to be honest. It’s testament to the fans and how good they’ve been to us (last season as well) and we need them this season. They were great for us and they help us along so if they keep coming in their numbers that’ll do nicely!”

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