Manager Jimmy Thelin spoke to the media to preview our match with Motherwell.
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A strong belief
“As I said at the last game, the only way for us now is upwards and now we’re talking about the performance, how we can be good so we can deserve the results for 90 minutes. I think we have a clear picture, everyone has shared now with the staff and the players on what we need to improve. It’s a lot of things that are good, but this last percent to get the whole team connected in different moments of the football game.
“The supporters are there and they’re watching and supporting the players. The belief is there that we can do it. Also, as a manager, you are like a CEO in a company. You take responsibility for this unit and the sporting side so the players should relax and focus and be the best version of themselves that they can be. I am responsible for the outcome in in the long run, and I have a strong belief that we can turn this around.”
Taking responsibility
“Football games are not won with systems, tactics or strategy. It’s about human beings, and that’s the players. How can we help each other be better on the pitch? How can we cope with the expectations we have? What should we focus on. If you haven’t scored a goal so far this season, keep doing the things that you should do, and don’t overthink things or do different solutions or strange decisions. Just believe in your abilities. Don’t forget how you arrive to this level.
“Also, how we defend when you should step out, when should we stay and then it’s also the competitive side. You can have all this technique, you have the strategies, you have your qualities but you have to fight for your space, and it’s defending and attacking, how you get into the box to score that goal, competing with the space with a defender, and also, vice versa, how you defend your box in a similar situation.”
Hard work always has to be there
“If you’re missing this 15% football becomes really difficult, and that’s what we have to change actually, when we’re performing now and adding this to the team as a collective and everybody has to take responsibility for this part of the team right now.
“You also learn and you grow with this. You always develop during your life and grow with different scenarios. Sometimes it can be a new league and demands of this league. It can be new teammates. They’re working on another coach who has different demands. What is important in football. So we’re trying to build this strong culture that the hard work always has to be there and that’s why I’m pushing the players.
“Our job is so that our fans can feel that we almost can’t walk after a game. We are so drained, so tired after a game, that they can see that we gave everything. We can’t do more than that, but they should never doubt in our ambition to give everything for them when we play in the game. We can talk about we missed this chance, or we don’t get too many shots against, but we’re missing this part, and that’s what we have talked about. We can’t let one more game go away from our hands now.”
Dealing with the pressure
“You see that the team now on the training session, everybody is so focused because it’s so clear what we have to do. So that’s why I feel that everybody is focused on the right path and that’s what we need to show. We can’t sit here, and I can sit here and speak about this thing, but it’s super clear. The pressure is there, the players know, and I feel that they’re not reacting bad on the pressure. They want to go out now and show our fans that it’s clear for everyone what Aberdeen Football Club stands for.
“In football or in life, it’s not always easy, and it’s more how you react on this and what you do about things. We can control parts, how we work, what we need to change. Sometimes it’s tough, sometimes things go smoother, but it’s always hard work behind so nothing has changed there. I am the person responsible. I am the manager of the football club, but I also have good staff. I still have the same procedure with my chairman, and we talk more or less every day, and everybody is aligned how we want to fix this, and we still believe we can, that’s the most important thing. When you have this strong belief that we’re going to find a way out, then it’s just to do the work to get the right results.”
Team news
“We need to have in mind that some plays might be fatigued after these two tight games we had before this one. So let’s see how we manage the squad there. Kjartan is on his way back. He has had some setbacks with his some small injuries with his calf, but he’s training fully after this weekend. Otherwise, everybody’s healthy.”
