Derek McInnes

“Similar to the game in Croatia we did not start with enough positive play.

“I did not think we were brave enough when we did not have the ball, we did not do enough to impose ourselves on the game. Unlike in Croatia when we were not punished, we were here with two bits of real quality that we knew Kairat had. For the first goal there was good interlink play but we have dropped a runner and at this level you are always likely to get punished if you do that.

“The second goal, the strike is from about 40 yards. I thought we were too deep as a team in that opening period. It was an uphill task as the momentum is with them. At 2-0 they have got good confidence.
“We then showed good composure, a good mentality and finished the first half strongly. We were maybe guilty of not making more of our opportunities. We played like the Aberdeen team I wanted to see the first minute. 

“The response from my team was exactly what I thought it would be. We did not roll over. We came out fighting.

“We said before the game that the away goal can be pivotal. In the past anytime we have got an away goal we have managed to progress. At half time I told the players to go and win the second half. If we play for the full 90 minutes in the second leg the way we played the last hour of the game here then I feel we have an excellent chance to go through.

“But we still have it all to do. We have a very tough opponent to play against.

“We were ready to play so we cannot use the long journey as an excuse for the slow start. Kairat were the better team in that opening period and they deserved their goals. We prepared properly. We were ready for it but we had to be better than that and for me a bit braver. Hopefully we can impose ourselves on proceedings next week.

“We tried to be positive with our substitutions to give ourselves the best chance to get a goal back. Kenny McLean as he did in Croatia came off the benched and scored and gives us good quality. And he was rewarded for his confidence and positivity when he came on. He drove and committed players. He was rewarded for his positive play.

“I thought previously people were far too hard on Kenny.

“I think he did absolutely fine for us last season. His performance levels last season were good. But when there is a fee involved everyone expects more. Time and time again he was getting into goalscoring positions. He always backs himself to score and now he has two goals and people start to recognise the qualities he has got. There was far too much comment about how he had not settled. That was never the case. 

“He has qualities that others don’t have. Last season he was trying to impose himself on a side half way through the season, and had to find a position in the team. This season he is starting afresh.

“He will be a big player for me.

“I think Kairat are still the favourites as we still have to score. But if we do score then one goal could be enough. We will have 20,000 supporters ready for the game. The players will be ready for the game and we will do everything we can to get a result.”