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RedMatchday Issue 18 | preview

23 February 2018

A look at what is in Sunday’s 84 page packed RedMatchday Magazine.

Main Feature | Kenny McLean

… “Before I came to Aberdeen, I missed quite a bit of the previous two seasons at St Mirren through injury. That held me back a bit but since I have been here, I have pretty much been involved in every game. My fitness has been good. I haven’t always played well but the manager has stood by me in a lot of the games, even when I have not been doing well. I think he realises I will always give myself a chance to do as well as I can. I have always given everything I can and I think the manager recognises and appreciates that.

Kenny McLean in action for Aberdeen

…. “It is massive for a player when you know the manager puts his trust in you. He knows when I run out on a Saturday what I am going to give him. I think this season I have been pretty consistent and hopefully it continues between now and the end of the season

…. “I think my reaction did sum up most of the crowd. The crowd were shouting to him to shoot, but it was a bit of a token gesture because you don’t expect to score from there. I have pulled off for a diagonal pass but he has stepped in and hammered one. The camera zoomed in on Jamie MacDonald the Kilmarnock keeper and he said something similar to me. I turned away in disbelief more than anything.

…. “It was the same when I left St Mirren. We had a really good changing room there even although we got relegated. Even if we got beat at the weekend, we would come in on the Monday and the spirit was still there. This changing room is excellent. There are a lot of good boys and that shows on the pitch. I will miss it, but it is part of game. I will move on and someone will come in and take my place.

…. “There were a couple of teams who were interested in me but when I heard of the connection with Norwich, it was something I was keen to pursue. Funnily enough, at that time they had a couple of matches on TV so I watched the games with a lot of interest. The way they played, I was drawn to it. I like to keep the ball, I like to keep possession. I like to think that is one of my strengths and I like to get on the ball. I was drawn to that. They then became my number one team to go to.

Player Interview | Scott McKenna

… “I had no decision to make because no offers were accepted. The main thing for me was just concentrating on my football and making sure I was ready for the games in January and I think I acquitted myself quite well in them.

Scott McKenna in action for Aberdeen

… “I coped absolutely fine with it all. It did not affect me too much. The manager spoke to me when we were in Dubai when the first bid came in. He pretty much told me that I was going nowhere. Right from the start, I knew I was going to be an Aberdeen player at the end of the window.

… “As a young player, the most important thing is to keep your feet on the ground. I just want to keep doing what I’ve been doing that got that interest in the first place. Hopefully I can keep improving and my game will get better and better. Then if the time is right, maybe I will move on, who knows? But right now, I am very happy here.

… “I have only played 20 games. There is no point in jumping at the first opportunity that comes along and then finding you are not ready. I have sat about long enough waiting for my chance up here. I had to work very hard as well as be patient. I do not want to go somewhere and be repeating that all over again, not playing and sitting in the stand or sitting on the bench.

… “I may move on one day, but I am in no rush as I am enjoying it here. We have a very good manager, good coaching and backroom staff, a good team and a good group of boys in the dressing room.

… “I am playing every week for a club that matters to me, a club I have been part of for a long time. I am playing for a club competing at the top end of the league, a club that wants to win cups. I am not playing for a small team that is not expected to do anything. I am playing at team where the fans are looking to us to get to cup finals and lift trophies. Hopefully I can be part of a team that does that.

… “The most important thing for me is to learn and to better myself as much as I can every day. I try and get as much from very training session as I can.”

U20 Player Interview | David Dangana

David Dangana in action for Aberdeen U20

… “It was disappointing losing the two games straight after the break to Motherwell and Kilmarnock. They were both narrow defeats and we probably should have got something from both games.

“But the wins over Hearts and Celtic have got our league campaign back on track and we are well positioned in the league so it could be an exciting end to the season.

… “We also have the Youth Cup Quarter Final on Monday. This is the furthest the team have got in the competition under Paul Sheerin and he has continually stressed to us just how important the competition is to the club. Finishing the season at Hampden in a cup final would be very special but we have to take care of Ross County on Monday and that will not be easy.

“They are a very good side and they won the Development League last season. All the games we have played against them in the past two seasons have been very tight and I would imagine Monday will be the same. Hopefully home advantage will help and it would be great if there was a decent crowd to give us support. It is a massive game.”

Former Players Interview by Charlie Allan | Walker McCall

Walker McCall in action

“He was just a young lad and scored a cracker of a goal in our debut up front together,” he explained.

“I ran over to congratulate him – but he did a back flip as he celebrated and kicked me straight in the mouth.

“It was Mexican legend Hugo Sanchez, who became famous for that type of celebration but it had never really been seen at that time.

“The clash shattered the dental plate that I wore after losing my front teeth colliding with the stantion behind a goal in my Junior days and made a real mess of the inside of my mouth.

“I steered well clear of Hugo when he scored after that!”

 

Plus: Derek McInnes, Graeme Shinnie, Richard Gordon, Chris Crighton, Ally Shewan, complete stats section and our in depth history section which has some cracking new photos from previous Aberdeen v Celtic games. You can order your copy online by clicking here

 

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