his thoughts on the fixtures
Aberdeen Manager Derek McInnes spoke to RedWeb this morning after the SPL fixtures were released.
“The fixtures were eagerly anticipated and I was delighted when I heard the news that we have got a home tie to start the new campaign.
“You want to get off to a good start and we have been given that chance with a home game that is winnable. Any away game is always tougher. I am just glad to be at home for the first game and I am not looking too far beyond that at the moment.
“We then have to play the team who were second and the team who were first in the SPL. Celtic and Motherwell have been the most consistent teams the past couple of seasons so they are tough games obviously but they are good games for us and we should not fear them or be overly daunted and it should be something we should relish. They are a good challenge for us.
“We can now start our preparation for the new season by looking at Kilmarnock and also Motherwell and Celtic’s pre-season fixtures and getting those games covered. Once you start to do things like that the new season is not too far away.
“Hopefully there will be a big crowd for the Kilmarnock game. I said when I came in I wanted to create some optimism within the City and amongst our fan base. With the changes that have been made to the squad and the signings we have brought in hopefully that helps that, hopefully we can have a good solid pre-season without too many injuries and prepare and build for that first game.
“All our home fixtures this season are going to be very important. If we have plans to be successful we are going to have to have a far better home record that we did last year. We have to be strong at home. I want the players to really look forward to the home fixtures and enjoy playing in front of the fans at Pittodrie. We have to work hand in hand together to make the home games a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
As the gaffer said he was not looking too far beyond the opening fixture against Kilmarnock but looking through the fixture list the game against Dundee United on New Year’s day at Tannadice did catch his eye.
“It was always a fixture as a Dundee United player I always remember. There was always a healthy crowd and it was always a proper fixture. There is a good rivalry between the sides and both sets of fans will look forward to that fixture and both sets of players will love playing in that fixture. Our fans will go there in good numbers and will help create a great atmosphere. Hopefully we are in a good frame of mind going into it.
“Like every other manager you want to get off to a good start and hopefully we can build on that but rather that get too excited we have to just try and get off to a solid start and try and get an improvement as the season goes on.
“If you get off to a good start it is no real indication of how the season will pan out. It is just a start. There is a long way to go after that. In the past few years Aberdeen has got off to a couple of good starts but has not been able to follow that up over the course of the campaign. We do not want to get everyone excited and then have them feeling underwhelmed by the end of it.
“We have to make sure we are continually making steady progress.
“A new manager and the new signings will not do that on their own. It is also down to the players who are already here and all the staff. Everyone has to work collectively to try and improve things over the course of a whole campaign. As I say it is not just down to the new players who are coming in to change things. We already have some real quality in that dressing room and we have brought in players who will compliment that. I am really looking forward to getting all the players back together and I am itching to get going.”
