Manager Jimmy Thelin spoke to the media on Friday lunchtime as he previewed our game with Motherwell on Saturday at a sold out Pittodrie.

RedTV subscribers can watch in full by clicking here. 

Team News

“Dimi is a little better than we were first expecting. I think it’s more weeks and not longer than that but let’s see. They’re working a lot with him now but I think it is some weeks ahead. It’s a small muscle injury in the shoulder.

“Sometimes it can happen (bad luck with injuries). He has had this kind of season now with some injuries. We need to, like we do with every player, evaluate after the season and try to plan the program for next season. Sometimes it can happen and we have to try to find the solutions and prepare for next season but we are in this season still and I think he’ll be back quite soon.

“It’s the same process for Kristers Tobers. It’s more about weeks and not months but it’s difficult to say the exact timeline. I’m quite positive there also. He is working so hard together with the medical and performance team. We have to wait and see and don’t do anything that can make it worse. His injury is a smaller one in the hamstring.

“I think that’s a longer one for Sivert. It’s quite an unusual injury. The timeline there is much longer, so we have to wait and see and make some other assessments. Right now we can’t do so much. I’m not an eye expert so let’s see but there is a timeline so we have to wait.

“Everybody seems fresh and back from the international break. Everybody has individual programmes more or less and some have played games for their countries. The energy was there today and even this week there was really good sessions for the players who were not away. We look sharp and ready for tomorrow.

“I think we are in a better place right now as a team, how we attack and defend and be more compact in the last games we have played. I feel like we’re on the right way for the important part of the last part of the season but it’s still game by game. It’s difficult games and there are no easy games. Motherwell have a new manager who has done a really good job. They’re stable, they score goals, they play with a lot of intensity. I think it’s going to be a really exciting game tomorrow with two teams who have a clear approach and want to attack the game.”

Achieving our aims

“Every game is an opportunity to take the steps in the table. I think every game is difficult but of course, we want to win tomorrow. It’s a sell out again at Pittodrie. The supporters are so supportive. They have been really good in the good times and we have had some more difficult times. They’ve been at away games, at home games and this togetherness is our engine to perform really well tomorrow again and try to take the three points.

“You have to always take it step by step. We have an aim before the season to arrive to the European spots but right now it’s really tight, even to the top six. We have our aim, it hasn’t changed, our direction hasn’t changed. We know it’s going to be difficult but we have to be focused, believe in what we’re doing, be optimistic and go with all we have but do it game by game and not think about the future too much.

“You have to have ambition and goals when you start the season in the short term and then also over a three year period, what we want to look as a team in the future, how we want to build a squad, how we want to play. You’re working with two things at the same time, the long term and the short term objectives season by season and then game by game. The first thing for us now is to secure the top six, and then when we are there, we focus on the next thing to find a European position for the next season. First of all, we have to be stay humble, focus on the right things and the game tomorrow.”

Overcoming challenges

“Every season has their challenges. Sometimes there is a lot of changes inside a squad in the transfer windows. Sometimes you have more or less injuries, sometimes in the same position, sometimes more spread out but you always try to find solutions. That’s my job and together with my staff and the players. Also the atmosphere around our club, how it’s hard working, everybody’s doing their part really well. There is good cooperation between the departments and we see the picture in the future. We want to arrive here and the direction is really, really clear for everyone.

“Sometimes you get small setbacks or struggle in parts of the season but it’s never mentioned one word to change the direction. We try to improve ourselves and the players have been working so hard in the  training sessions. They have improved some parts of the game and they have played in different positions, taking responsibility for the season. I’m really pleased how they behave and how they cooperate as a team.”

Sell Out at Pittodrie

“Since the day I arrived here the whole atmosphere around Aberdeen and Aberdeen Football Club, the people who live here has been amazing. Also when I get back to Sweden after the last game for some days to meet the family, I met people at the airport who are traveling not only from here to see Aberdeen play football. So you have a big responsibility but you also feel that in a good way. People are supporting us and they believe in us. It’s a good way to create a good future for us and use that energy in the right way.”