Derek McInnes spoke to the media on Tuesday in St Andrews. This is what was said:
What do you make of the European draw?
“I think the draw has been kind logistically, it is not the most of difficult places to get to, and it will be accessible for the supporters to get to as well. They were the one team who were not up and running in their season which I think is always something you would prefer to have a team who are in a similar situation who are trying to accelerate their pre-season work and trying to get ready for the first game proper.”
Have you had time to look into Fola Esch as to what kind of a time they are and what you can expect from them?
“The standout result for them was the 1-1 draw with Dinamo Zagreb away from home last year in the Champions League qualifier and they did that with 10 men for the last period of the game. That’s a standout result. We’ve watched the last game of the season they played domestically last night and I’m halfway through watching that Zagreb game that we spoke about. We feel that there is a pattern to their shape and personnel. They might make some signings before then but we feel we are quite comfortable (in knowing) how they want to play the game and the level of opposition that we will be facing.”
Do you think Europa League group stage is realistic?
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but as a general question the Europa League make it as difficult for a club like ourselves to get through to their group stages, but it’s something we are going to have to find a way to get into. They give every opportunity to the bigger clubs to get into the group stages. The first round will be the only one we are seeded, everyone other game we will be termed as the underdog, the way it has worked.
“But the draw could be kind to us and we could get a game in the third round if we get through these two that might just give us a chance. In a one-off game I think it’s achievable. It’s tough, it is not like the old days where four rounds of games would get you into a semi-final or a final, we have to play four rounds of games just to get to a group stage.
For us it would be a huge achievement and it is certainly our focus at the minute. League campaigns and domestic cups can wait. We are saying to the players that this is our objective for now, let’s home in on that and do as well as we can in the tournament.”
Do you expect to make more signings before the first European tie?
“I think that we are going to try and make more signings. We’ve made signings that have already settled in. In one or two positions we feel there will be more signings to come and whether we get anymore in before the first European game remains to be seen, but we certainly feel we will make additional signings before the window closes.”
“We all need to bear in mind that the majority of the English clubs that we do a lot of our work with don’t go back until the first or second week in July. Whilst you might have had conversations about players any decisions on them are still a long way away for them at times. English clubs are on their holidays at the minute, the Euro Championships are on, and we will hold our nerve with certain ones. We feel we have made good signings up to now and we are confident we can add to that.”
“We’ve added goal threats and different options at the top end of the pitch. Sometimes the challenge for a manager is that you might not always be able to bring better players in, but you can certainly bring in something different and I feel with Miles Storey and Jayden Stockley we have something different. We have been too reliant on Adam Rooney’s goals so it was important to add more goals to the team from other players. The signings we have made we feel will help us, but we are still not finished yet. We have signings to make and work to do, but the way we are at the minute even without Miles Storey meeting up with us until July, I feel we have the team and squad here that can get us through the first round anyway.”
Will it be a fight between Joe Lewis and Neil Alexander for the number 1 jersey?
“Yes it is the same as any other position. Both players are well under the impression they have a job to do to get themselves ahead of the other. I like an experienced goalkeeper, young Danny Ward was an exception to the rule. A young goalkeeper to play at Aberdeen is difficult. You need to go and learn your trade, have to go and gain that experienced. I think Neil is more experienced than Joe, but Joe being his age is ready to deal with that and I think we have two different types of keepers, but definitely two experienced keepers and both very capable. That has been demonstrated in the last week in training, both have been impressive.”
You’ve done so well in recent seasons, improving, being the nearest challengers to Celtic, have you found that your raised profile has made it easier to bring in players this summer?
“A lot of clubs look at us as a good place to put their young players. I think people are more of Aberdeen when we speak to clubs – players and agents from down south. People are aware of the improvements that have been here.
“Players will sign for clubs for many reasons, but finances still play a large part in that so whilst I think we have a lot to sell and offer sometimes we need to work within our means and sometimes that means we do not always get what we want, but I am comfortable with that.
“I feel we have good players here with a competitive squad. Hopefully that competitiveness helps us challenge in all competitions. Being in Europe over the last three years has helped us get closer to Celtic and we were the one team to challenge them.”
“Over the last few years we have gained a respect that Aberdeen are a good side and do a lot of things right, a competitive side who have been challenging. We want people to have that same opinion of us this time next year when reflecting on a good campaign.
“Hopefully we win a cup and are competitive in all competitions.”
“Hopefully we win a cup and are competitive in all competitions.”
