Dons in Dubai | The Manager Post Match

The manager gave his thoughts on the training match and the trip as a whole when he spoke to RedTV on Sunday night at the team hotel:

“We will probably get the true value of the trip once we are back in Aberdeen and see how we go for the second half of the season.

“From a training point of view, it has been excellent. We had six good training sessions on good surfaces and we did some pool work. We have also done some work off the pitch with our sponsors and we have met a lot of the supporters who live out here. It is surprising just how many supporters we have out here. It was great to see them turn out in such great numbers for the game.

“On the field and off it, the trip has been so worthwhile. We have all taken a lot from it.

“The trip has been very beneficial and we have enjoyed it.

“I have spoken to Paul Sheerin every day and his U20 side have been indoors, they have not been able to get training on the pitches because of the conditions so hopefully we have picked the right week to be away.

“From my point of view the game today was the focal point of the trip. We have been working towards it all week with the training and it was good to come through it with no injuries. It was all about getting the players moving in an eleven a side game, getting them making decisions that you can’t replicate in training. To win the game, against good opposition, and scoring a couple of good goals was an added bonus.

“It was great to see Shinnie with a fantastic finish to win the game. It was tremendous technique.

“We go back to Aberdeen tomorrow and then knuckle down for Stranraer.

“On paper, a home tie against a league one side, it seems simplistic enough but we all know there will be shocks in the cup. We need to make sure we are professional as we can be. Hopefully we will bring a performance that we are capable of to get us through to the next round. It is all about getting into the next round.

“Hopefully there is a good crowd. The supporters have not seen the team for a few weeks. We are eager to get back to business.”

RedTV | to watch the interview in full please click here