Manager Jimmy Thelin spoke to the media on Friday lunchtime to preview our William Hill Premiership match with Rangers at Pittodrie. RedTV subscribers can watch in full by clicking here.
Injury Update
“Dimi (Mitov) and Kristers (Tobers), we still need some more time with them, so they’re not going to be available for this game and we have to take it week by week and day by day. So let’s see but not on Sunday. Sivert is still out and we will see how long that will be.”
Looking ahead to Sunday
“We’re playing at home at Pittodrie. It’s a good feeling to get out there and play again. It’s an important game. We know what we have to focus on and what we have to do to show the best from our side. And of course, we play against a good team and we have to be at our highest level. That’s what we’re aiming for every game, trying to be prepared all the time. The most important thing is what we do on Sunday.
“They have a good squad, so they’re going to have good players on the pitch whoever plays but so do we. I think it’s going to be a really intense, a really energetic game. It’s going to be a good game on Sunday.”
Playing for points
“There are not so many points to play for in the season. That’s been really important for us in the last weeks. Every week there are fewer points to play for. Every game is so important for us now to achieve what we want to achieve this season. Every game is like a cup game for us. We know what we have to do, and the three points is so important, but you also have to perform and deserve it. That’s why the focus should be on our own performance. We analyse them and try to find out the strength and the weaknesses. The stability of our own performance, I think, is the key for us when we have won the last games. The way we play, the inconsistency before, when we have this run of not winning, it was like we were inside the games too much up and down. I think we are more stable again, and that’s what we have to keep doing.”
Belief
“It’s hard work behind it and we have got through some challenging times and some players are coming back from injuries, some players have been recruited, some players have grown. So I think the squad is getting better, and we can manage sometimes better when we have someone missing out, and we are a more stable team, stable squad, and that’s important for us. Also for the long term not to be so up and down during the season. I’m happy with the progress. The players have shown that they have grown during the season and challenge each other better and compete better. So that’s really good.”
Jack Milne’s new contract
“What we’re trying to build here is a mix of players from here and of course, from Scotland, but also from abroad and try to be a stable team. When we have a player from here who has been here for a long time and has signed a longer contract, it’s so important for the DNA and identity. Also, how he has grown as a player, both outside and on the pitch, how he takes care of himself, how he pushes to get better, how he trains and hopefully he can get some consistency after his injuries and try to grow and play more in the future. That’s our strong belief, that’s why we renew the contract. You can see he’s getting better and better. We are so happy for that.”
Rangers at Pittodrie
“We know how much it means for everyone. I think the game will be really intense. I think it’s going to be a good game. I think the most important thing for us is to do our things really well. They also have a strong squad, and they will be ready. It’s going to be an exciting game. We know at home at Pittodrie, our supporters, they are so energetic and give us so much energy. We’re looking forward to it.
“You do all of the preparations during the week. The players are ambitious, they are competitive, they love to play at home at Pittodrie. You don’t need to say so much. We have our game plan, but still, it’s decisions from individuals and as a collective on the pitch that will help us to win. They will be ready.”
