Graeme Shinnie |

What are your thoughts ahead of the game?
 
“Excited, looking forward to it. We’ve done well up until this point and this is another game for the whole club and the fans to look forward to so it would be great to have a good backing from the crowd and the players will look to put on a show as well”.
 
Maribor are a team with pedigree, what do you have to bring to make sure you can build on the last round?
 
“We know it’s a step up, Maribor are a good team. At home we have especially done well and hopefully it will be a big crowd again and with them being behind us and being patient we will look forward to it. We know we are good going forward especially at home where we have played really well so that will be big for us on Thursday night”.
 
How much confidence can you take from the last round in particular against Ventspils when you went over there and kept the cool and did the job?
 
“It was a bit of a different experience. Last year we played Rijeka and won 3-0 over there and I think last week’s tie was a bit different to Rijeka and that is with no disrespect to Ventpsils, but I think we were pretty confidence going over there that there was a job to be done, but we knew we could do it. This one will be a tough game, but we know we can do well in these big ties like Rijeka last year and Thursday night is another one of them”.
 
You were written-off against Rijeka, beat them, written-off against Groningen, beat them, written-off against Sociedad, game them a run for their money, how much confidence can you take from those experiences going into a big game like this?
 
“Massive belief. Obviously I wasn’t here for the Groningen game, but Rijeka last year and the pedigree they had especially at home it was massive and I don’t think we went there with any fear, we just looked to get the job done and that’s up there with one of the best results in my football career. We know we can do it on the big night and it is just up to us to go and do it”.
 
Do you get a feeling that this is a squad who are maturing on the European stage?
 
“Yeah definitely. The experience comes through having played previously and last year was great for me. This year has been a different experience again with the games that we’ve had. We were favourites in the first two rounds this year which is different to last year. Thursday will be a new game, a new learning curve and one that I am looking to enjoy”.
 
What are you expecting from Maribor?
 
“The coaches have done all their research and work on them. I think they will be really compact and try and make it difficult for us to attack or counter, but we have dealt with that in the last few rounds and like I said we need to stay patient in what we do and make sure we are tight at the back as well and it should make for a good game”.
 
Is the current Aberdeen team specifically suited to the European style of game?
 
“You could say that. I think especially at home in the last two rounds that we’ve had, we have looked good going forward, created plenty of chances and always look like we are going to score. It will be a different test against Maribor, but it is up to us to go and do the business on the night”.
 
The manager has brought in three new attacking players in Burns, Stockley and Storey, what difference does that make going forward knowing you have a plan B which you maybe previously didn’t?
 
“It is great. The Ventspils game at home especially showed the depth of the squad we have got. We were doing well in the game, but maybe needed something different. The manager made the changes and it paid off. We knew we were doing well, but needed something different and to have those players coming off the bench is great and gives the whole team a lift.”
 
What would it mean to have a big crowd to back the team?
 
“It is key and massive. They’ve been brilliant in the first two games and we have had to stay patient in the game and take the chances when they’ve came late on. The crowd have been with us the whole way so Thursday is another night we need them, but we need to give them something to cheer about as well and that is what we will look to do”.