Derek McInnes |

“I was pleased with the performance.

“A lot of these boys playing today have been back for four or five weeks now and not started a game of football. So it was important for them that we got some under minutes into them.

“We came off it a little bit for a 15 minute spell when their subs gave them a bit of a spark, but it was a fitness thing for us. We wanted to give as many of the players who started 90 minutes and the majority did that.

“We were pleased with the quality of some of the play.

“If we did not already know it, today proved that we have got some good options in forward areas. I thought Tansey was magnificent in the middle of the park. Some of the younger ones gave me encouragement as well. And it was good for Kari to get a goal on his second debut.

“By and large, a good afternoons work.

“Kari Arnason has had a couple of weeks in Cyprus (training) with his old team. He has not done a lot of ball work and sharpness and he has admitted that is what he needs now. So it was important we tried to replicate some of that sharpness through his training last week. We tried to give him what he needs and today was the culmination of a lot of work he has done with us. He gets a day off tomorrow but he will have had the benefit of the 90 minutes today and that will hopefully speed him on.

“From the game side of it, decision making, getting asked questions in behind; all that becomes second nature once you get a few games. He is certainly not far away and you can see from his composed style that he has always had, he is very confident in his work. We just need to make sure we get the minutes into him so he is ready when called upon.

“He is certainly available for Thursday which we are delighted about.

“Nicky Maynard could have scored four of five. His movement is top drawer. He is always asking questions of the centre halves. He finds space in the box. He just needs that bit of sharpness to finish off the good work. I thought between Nicky and Adam they could have some had more goals between them but their movement was terrific and I think it is really encouraging we have another option in that area now in the club.

“Scott Wright overcame a mental hurdle last Friday when we played a 11 v 11 game in the club. Although he was on the bench for the first leg, he had only had one day’s training and he was still thinking about his hamstring injury. So having had that training session on the Friday, he bounced into training last week and has looked sharp. He ended up playing right back today but we wanted him to get through 90 minutes work. I feel Scott is going to be a big player for us. He is a player who brings real speed at the top end of the pitch. He can play off both sides equally as well. His final ball is getting better and his decision making will get better once he gets the games and the experience. He is certainly one we want to have a big impact this year.

“At the moment we are quite happy with the squad. I think we will go with this squad for the third round in Europe and then see where we are. I am not looking for anyone to leave at this point. We have to prepare for three games in the space of about ten days. When we come back from Cyprus early on Friday we then have a game against Hamilton to prepare for.

“We will use our full squad and we are confident we can deal with the next three games.

“Everyone is staying at the minute and I don’t see us adding to it before the European deadline on Wednesday. But we will keep our options open.

“It is important we get all the players here up to speed and that is why today was important. The team who started on Thursday night trained this morning. We got good work into them.

“When we went over to Bosnia and Herzegovina last Thursday there were not a lot of fans in the ground but there was a great atmosphere and they made a hell of a racket. Hopefully we can replicate this on Thursday. The more supporters we can get into Pittodrie the better. Hopefully they can be in full voice. We want to make it a special European night.

“Like the last round, we don’t need to win the tie at Pittodrie but we want to do all we can to take an advantage over to Cyprus. Hopefully a big crowd can help us get the desired result.

“Apollon were very impressive against the Moldovans. You could not fail to be impressed by their movement, their approach to the play, the intensity that they played at. They were clearly the better side and did the right things. They have two overlapping full backs and bright movement ahead of the play. Two controllers in the middle of the park and they are very good at centre back.

“As you go through the rounds you naturally come up against better equipped teams. Hopefully they are looking at us and our second half display and thinking we are a good side. That was why we were the second best team in Scotland last season and why it is going to be a tough game for them as well.

“It is going to be tough but it is a game we believe we can get through.”

“It is going to be tough but it is a game we believe we can get through.”