The manager spoke to the media on Friday lunchtime to preview our trip to Tannadice Park to take on Dundee Utd.

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Reflections on 24/25

“Sometimes when you’re in some moments, when it’s not going exactly how you want, you have to zoom out a little bit and see what’s happened this season. We are in the top six. Our goal was Europe. We have achieved that goal. We are in Europe. When you are in the top six, you try to get the highest position available you can reach and it was the third spot. Now it is impossible. Now we have to try to achieve fourth position. What the players have pushed themselves through this season, from a really difficult season last season, to arrive to a Final, a Semi-Final, and now have the chance to arrive to fourth in the league.

“You have to zoom out to what actually has happened and how they have done it through a lot of transfers, in and out, some injuries, and still we’re there to give us a chance of fourth. I think overall it’s a good performance. We have had some difficult games especially against Celtic and Rangers, the one and two in the league. Now we have to focus on the Dundee United game. Sometimes you just need to lift a bit the eye and see where we are. It’s the first year of a three year project, and we try to progress our work all the time to be better in the future. Now we have reached the goal to go to Europe, but we want the fourth position, and it’s going to be a really interesting game tomorrow, and a real exciting game. There is a lot to play for.”

Improving on the season

“We are aware that right now, every game is one game, football is football. Anything can happen, but we have struggled some games this year when we’re trying to be better the way we want to play, we can’t forget the way we play has taken us to these goals, like to Europe, the Final, the Semi-final. We have been exposed sometimes, in some games when the opponents are really, really skilful. How can we use this information and try to be better next season and also for the Final? What can we learn and now we have to do even better in the Final to give us a chance to win the Final. You can never give up. You have to believe, but also stay in reality a little bit, where are we, where are we coming from and what do we need to progress for the next two years.”

Nicolas Milanovic Signing

“We always try to use the budget we have, you always have a budget, and then you try to get the most value as possible from this budget, and try to use the money wisely for what we have and what we can do, and try to get the most value from every player.

“I think Nicolas’ profile is going to fit really well in here at Aberdeen Football Club. I think he’s going to bring a lot of value to our club and our squad. We’re really happy that he’s coming and looking forward to meeting him when he arrives here.”

Dundee United

“They have had a really good season. We’re fighting on the same position right now in the last game of  league here. It’s going to be a tight game, but we really believe that we can get something from this game and we’re going to give everything we can to win the game. They are good but we’re also good. We have to show that we can close this season in a good way and a good performance tomorrow.

“I don’t need to tell the players anything. They know that it’s important tomorrow. They know there is a Final in one week, and the ambition is high. We try to prepare ourselves in the best way. The way they train now and the readiness for the game tomorrow  is there. I don’t need to say anything they know it’s important, and they look forward to the game tomorrow, and then for the Final.

Team News

“It’s only Alfie (Dorrington) who is suspended. Otherwise everybody else is available.”

Progress in season 24/25

“We have to always try to be better now and in the future and don’t get so stuck in the history. I think it’s important to try to grow as a team. It’s more about that, how we can win these kind of games away (from home), how we can do better. .

“Everybody knows what we were last season, and the players know, and they are progressing. We have done some really good parts this season. We deserve to fight for the fourth place but still can we add something to grow even more. Sometimes when you are long term, but you’re always impatient because there’s so much emotions involved all the time. You can’t build a team like this. You have to try to stay on the track, but do things a little bit better all the time. How can we train better? How can we compete better in some moments of the games away, etc, etc. We want to keep the same way we have done and try to be even better tomorrow.”