With the international break this weekend, it gave us chance to look back and reflect. RedMatchday spoke to Jonny Hayes recently.

“I think if you look at the start of the season overall, we’ve played some very good games. The defeats to Dundee United and St Johnstone were disappointing. Whenever we get beat I believe it is our own fault because on our day, we can beat most teams. But we have also had some good performances. I enjoyed the European experiences especially. The tempo of the games was very different to what you get in Scotland, but a lot of that was more down to the way we played.

“The only game we did not enjoy was the first leg against Real Sociedad. We sat off them and tried to hit on the counter but we could not really get out of our own half. We did not perform as well as we would have liked, we did not give a true showing, but you also have to give credit to the opposition.

“Other than that, the games were quite enjoyable, against different levels of opposition. I thought we were very unlucky with the draw as well. In the second round we probably got paired against the hardest team in the competition at that stage in Groningen and then in the next round, we had to play Sociedad which was the toughest draw again.

“We showed ourselves to be a decent team and in the second leg against very good Spanish opposition we probably should have won the game. We were all very disappointed we didn’t. We only lost because we had to chase the game. If we hadn’t had to do that, we more than likely would have held on and won the game 2-1. They were at a different level to what we are going to see domestically in the weeks and months ahead so we must take confidence from that.

“The players really upped their game that night. You would not have known that Sociedad played in the Champions League the season before. We had some players, the likes of Ryan Jack and Russell, who would not look out of place in their team. It was a credit to the boys how we performed. The manager recognised that it probably suited us better to go and attack them, and we played with three up front including Peter. The tactics worked really well and it was only because we were chasing things late on that we conceded the late goals. That game is something we can take a lot of confidence from.”

One of the abiding memories of the European campaign was Jonny’s astonishing run in the final minutes of the game in the Netherlands. On a hot, humid night, the players had to put quite a shift in yet Jonny somehow had the energy to sprint the length of field to get up in support of a break. Sadly it came to nothing. “I made that run and then Niall did not pass to me! I had a little word with him after! I was gutted!”

That run was indicative of the hugely impressive fitness levels that play such a major part in Jonny’s game. When he spoke to us for the programme last term, he gave us plenty of insight into a very strict fitness regime, particularly his attention to nutrition. That paid dividends for him last term and has allowed him to relax things just a little having reached his goals – only a little mind you, not much!

“I have felt much stronger in the past 14 months or so. When the new manager came in, I had a look at my game and thought about what I need to change. One of the elements was my diet and my nutrition, I went to a nutritionist, Scott Baptie, to work on that, and that has paid off for me.

“I am probably not as strict as I was a year ago because I have got myself to a level of fitness where I can now relax a little bit. When I go for dinner, I do not have to worry about taking food out with me in Tupperware boxes!

“I actually stopped going out to nice restaurants because I did not want to disrupt my eating plan. Now I am a little bit more relaxed. I am still very strict around game days though and I don’t ever eat rubbish.

“I don’t think nowadays you can get away with just showing up on a Saturday and expecting to be able to play. You have to be prepared. You have to have the right amount of sleep, you have to eat the right things. With the demands of this manager and this club you have to give yourself the best chance to live up to expectations.

“There is not the same drink culture within the game. Ten, fifteen years ago players were going for beers after training most days. That is unheard of now. Any little discrepancy in your diet or in what you drink can affect how well hydrated you are on a Saturday. For me personally, my mentality is that I want to go into a game on a Saturday giving myself the best chance possible to perform as well as I can, so I eat the right stuff throughout the week and I drink as much water as possible.

“The sports science that has come into the game more and more over the years has taught us that the slightest bit of dehydration can cause you injuries or little strains. You could then lose you place in the team. I have been out injured before and I know that once you are fit again, it is not easy to get back into this side. Once you get that starting jersey, you want to keep it. If you are not in the team then you want to give yourself the best possible chance of getting into it. 

“All the senior players at the club, Mark, Andy, as well as Russell and Barry, are a good example for all the young boys at the club. They are in the gym before training every day. Russell and Barry have shown that if you look after yourself properly then you can play on”.   

If we can all agree that Jonny is the fittest he has ever been in his career, is he also playing his best football?

“I don’t really know to be honest, that’s for others to say. I don’t really over analyse my performances. I think I have adapted my game over the years. I am playing a much different role to the one I played three or four years ago up at Inverness. I was a lot more attacking and got involved in more goals. The way we played, I almost had a free role and I did not track back as much.

“Now, I have adapted to playing in midfield in a diamond formation or to playing at left-back. I am now more defensively aware than I was and that has added to my game. I have maybe lost a couple of goals a season, but I think the manager’s view is that I would be a lot more trustworthy to play in a tough away game or a big European tie. He knows I am not going to give up on a full-back or lose runners. I also feel a lot stronger and fitter than I have ever been.

“That helps when you can get up and down the pitch for 90 minutes instead of being Ronaldoesque and going back to the halfway line and waiting for the ball to come to you. I don’t think you can afford to do that, not in our game anyway and certainly not with the way the manager wants us to play. Adapting my game has definitely helped my all round game instead of just offering goals and assists.

“While we are a team that looks to score goals, the manager also expects everybody to do their bit for the defence too because as long as we are solid on the day, we are very hard to beat. People talk about systems about 4-3-3 and 4-5-1, but at the end of the day, you need to have your two banks of four and be able to defend well as team.

“The quicker and fitter you are, it helps you get up the pitch and I think we have that in abundance in this side. We therefore can afford to sit deep in some games, especially away from home and then hit teams on the break with the pace we have.”

Just as a footballer has to be physically fit to play the game at the highest level, you also have to be mentally attuned too, and that includes being able to get away from the game and switch off at times. How does Jonny do that?

“It is hard with social media to get completely away from it all, even on days off. People constantly want to talk to you. The best thing is to leave your phone at home. It is hard nowadays leaving your phone at home but it is probably the thing that weighs you down most. You are still keeping in touch with people, checking the scores of other games.

“I like getting away with my dogs and with my partner Sarah. On a day off I like to go out to the country and go for a walk. At weekends when I am not out with the dogs, I enjoy watching a bit of golf. I enjoy watching the horse racing too, it is something I have been into since I was young. I own a couple of horses. An Aberdeen fan Douglas Renton got me involved and although I am only a part owner, it is still nice to be involved. It is probably my favourite sport.

“To be honest, I do not watch much football. If there is a big game on in the Champions League, I might put it on or watch that with a few of the boys if they come round for dinner. The big games are hard to get away from because everyone is talking about them. If I did not want to watch I could just go onto twitter because you get live running commentary from many people.

“But I cannot actually remember the last time I watched a game in the house. I like to completely switch off from football. Most people when they come home don’t want to sit and talk about work all evening and I am no different. I know that is maybe difficult for people to understand because football is a very passionate sport and a very passionate hobby for an awful lot of people but I do quite like switching off and I think Sarah is quite grateful for that! Instead of watching a game of football I land up watching “Storage Hunters”!

“I have really enjoyed my time in Aberdeen and it is reasonably easy to switch off from things here. When I look back, it is hard to believe I have been here for two years now. The time has actually flown by. My life is about to change massively as my partner and I are about to have a baby. The baby is due at the start of September which is handy because it is around the international break!”

Just as Jonny has taken to Aberdeen, so the Red Army has taken Jonny to its heart too. Ids that something he has specifically worked on?

“Being on social media you can interact with people a lot more. It has helped breakdown some of the barriers that maybe existed. I have met some good friends through twitter outside of football. Although people say it can be a hindrance, and journalists probably curse it, from a players point of view it can be a good thing but it is how you use it. As long as you do not get involved in any controversy and know when to take a step back, it’s fine. We are not allowed to tweet before or after a game, which is sensible as we are focused fully on the game ahead.  

“But trying to have a good relationship with supporters is something I have always done. I have always appreciated the support everywhere I have been. Ever since I signed, and I know the first season did not work out too well, but the fans have been brilliant. I think supporters recognise when you try. Even if you are not having the best of games if you are giving one hundred percent, putting that graft in and putting yourself about to try and make things work then people appreciate that.

“A lot of managers I have worked under have stressed the importance of appreciating the fans. Craig Brown used to say to us, “One day people will not want your autograph so make the most of it.” That seems like good advice!”