The manager sat down with the media to carry out his pre-match media duties ahead of Monday night’s league opener away to St Johnstone. RedTV subscribers can watch in full by clicking here. 

“It is the eve of a new season and it is really exciting. I think everybody is feeling it and it is time to start with the league now and we’re looking forward to it. So far everybody is happy.

“I think we are ready. You always have to adapt to the circumstances so that is what we’re trying to do and prepare the team from that. We have been watching St Johnstone and I think we’re ready for a good fight and a good game.

“Leighton has started the season really well. I feel sorry for him, he is a good guy and has started the season really well and has been important for us but that’s football sometimes and we need to find solutions and try to find ways to play well and win games. Our job now is to find another solution and it will sometimes give opportunities for other players to show up and to show themselves on the pitch and give something to the team. Both Dante and Leighton are really good guys and players. It’s not nice when we get these setbacks but hopefully they get back stronger and they have everyone’s support and they give energy to the locker room.

“We have solutions. Some of the players who were here last year and didn’t play so much and sometimes when things happen, opportunities arise and that’s why I always try to put responsibility to the players in every training session to train hard and prepare well because when the chance arises you have to be ready. You can’t use excuses. It is always up to me, my staff and the players to prepare everyone to compete.

“In terms of incoming transfers, a lot of work is going on but we also need to take the right decision not just a decision to bring someone in. We need to have the long term in our heads and think about players that we have the right quality and then we need to find a strategy. We’re talking about it right now about how we want to act. Sometimes when things happen you can look for short term solutions but the most ideal for Aberdeen right now is to find long term solutions. Like I have said in every press conference we have to believe in the players that are here so they feel it and now it’s up to us and them to do this together. On Monday we will get some answers so we have to start with a good starting point from there and not stress. Of course we always need to try and build the strongest team through training and recruitment. That’s our job and that’s what we’re working on everyday and throughout the year. We will keep doing that.

“They are here and they are Aberdeen players and they are fighting hard on the sessions, they listen, they want to learn (Vicente Besuijen and Pape Gueye). They want to give everything they can for the team and the supporters. So far, so good. It is a good team spirit. Even the players who haven’t played so much still contribute a lot in the locker room and on the training pitch. So for me it is really important that they are fully focused right here. Then we can see what’s happening, how the team is growing and then find the best solutions for everyone. Also for the player if we feel like there is not going to be so much game time then we can have a discussion about that and the next step.

“Bojan is still an Aberdeen player so that is what we focus on. We have a game on Monday and he is training fully and he is giving everything he can in training. For sure he will be in the squad and maybe he starts.

“For me it’s about the performance like what we are doing and what we can see, we have had two strong comebacks in the second half. I liked how we played there with the intensity we want and also how we are more connected inside the team. Also the way we attack through crosses and through combinations between and behind. For me the identity has to be even stronger and clearer so we can do things more often and more consistently same in the defence and how we defend. When a team is growing it is not just only a starting point on Monday you need to prepare to win that game. It is clear that we have to grow more and be stronger in some parts. We need to keep working. The thing with the cup games is we found ways to win the games. There are some parts that we can’t do everything. The way we pressed when we were good it was good. Also the way that we attacked in some parts was really good. The speed of transition is better and better.

“I have been here for a couple of months now and I have amazing support from the staff here and how they helped me settle in and also everything around the city. The fans as well. I think there is going to be a big away support on Monday. It can’t be better. I am really, really happy.”