Manager Jimmy Thelin carried out his usual pre-match media duties on Tuesday afternoon as he previewed the Dons match with St Mirren at Pittodrie.
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“They have some tough results but still they have had some good performances. They’re still good at what they’re doing, how they attack, how they arrive around the opponents box and use the strength of the team. For us it’s again to be keeping really stable as a team, be consistent in our basic structures, and then try to keep growing as a team and do other things better, but still keep this platform that we are on right now and build from there.
“We have played some really difficult away games. We have showed this resilience as a team and find ways to win in difficult away games. And now we want to improve our form at home and keep building on this.”
Building on attacking play
“It’s always a balance but I think we’re getting even closer and closer. First of all, football is scoring more goals than opponents in the games, and we have done that. That’s the first thing. Then of course you want to play and create more chances.
“We have to start from somewhere, and I think we’re going to grow every week, it’s coming, and if you can keep the platform we’re on right now and adding things and don’t take step backs. So take belief, step by step. We’re not training so much right now with so many games, but the focus is for us to get better and better timing in and around the opponents box.
“You have to find ways to win when you have a struggling time and then from there, building better rhythm in the team. I think it’s closer than maybe you can think sometimes. We have to be stable but adding these qualities.”
Busy schedule of fixtures
“You want to play games all the time, and everybody’s looking forward to the games. We’re trying to manage everyone. We have a big squad, and the players not involved in the squad are training really hard, so they are ready when the opportunity comes. We mix the whole squad and try to take care of everyone, because we’re going to need everyone.
“Our objective is to enjoy this moment. If you can choose to be in Europe or not, you’re going to choose to be in Europe but still perform in the league. So we have to use everyone. The players are sharing responsibility, and the players who are not involved in the squad tomorrow, are going to train really hard, so they also ready when the next game comes and then the opportunity comes. I think we have found a good way to keep everybody sharp.”
Topi Keskinen
“Sometimes we forget about things, Topi came last year from one season into another season, and then he was with the national team and where he play, play, play. So it was good for him to be outside the starting eleven for a while. Now we come back with energy again. It’s all about energy. Sometimes it’s not so bad that they have a drop in form. It’s still human beings. You can push them, push them, push them, but then you have to think, okay why is the form maybe dropping a little bit? What is his journey?
“They always want to play. They’re not happy when you put them on the bench or not in the squad. But sometimes you need to help them to get energy back and go out and show that they are really good football players. That’s what Topi has done exactly now. He has this energy, he is quicker in his decision making. So sometimes you just need to help them a little bit to get back in and performing again.”
Younger players waiting for their chance
“We have training everyday and there is competition inside the squad. They’re going to go grow. I’m 100% confident in that. They’re going to be good players for Aberdeen. They are early in the journey right now, and they’re pushing really hard. They have competition in their positions, and we have a strong belief in them. Otherwise we would have never signed them.
“Sometimes some players needs some more time to adapt to a new reality, a new context, they have strong competition in their position, and then just try to be consistent. When the team is more stable, it’s also easy for them to get the time, but also, first of all, they have to show on the training pitch that they deserve to play and they deserve the spot.
“I have done this so many times with so many players, and it’s always this critical moment now when they have to be consistent and keep pushing and don’t give up or find excuses, and they are so close, they just need to keep pushing, and then they’re going to deserve it, and then they’re going to show everybody how much potential is there.
“Dylan Lobban is an example of this. One year ago, he was not so physical as he is now. Everybody thinks about this moment, but they think about his journey and how much extra he has done to prepare for this moment, it’s a lot of work and consistency, and that’s why it’s just for the other players to look at this journey and see that good things can happen.”
Team news
“Everybody’s training now. Some players, we think need some more match fitness. So that’s why we train really hard tomorrow, to get up to speed, because they have been little bit in and out and maybe be on the bench, but hasn’t played so much. So sometimes we need to balance these scenarios to get them ready for when we need them, and they’re going to be ready.”
Challenge of St Mirren
“They are a good team. They are in one final. It’s not like they have been totally beaten every game. Every game is really close in this league. They have also changed some small parts for the last games that we have to be aware of and take it from there.”
