Stephen Glass was admirably honest in assessing a chastening night for the Dons at Pittodrie.
“They have a team littered with top players, they’re very well coached, and it was clear tonight that they are a level above us, simple as that. We knew they would enjoy the pitch here as much as we would after last week.
“We started the game ok, then they scored a goal out of nothing, all down to the quality they have. That then became the theme for the night, their quality players produced.
“The biggest lesson we should take from tonight is how important it is to look after the ball when you have it. We are capable of that, even against top teams, and we showed more of that in the second half and we looked more dangerous, albeit the game was gone already.
“You keep the ball, you give their players less opportunity to hurt you. But they have a top group of players, especially at the top end of the pitch and they can really punish you if you’re loose with the ball, which they did.
“We gave the ball away cheaply at times, but teams of their quality force you into that. Going forward, we have an opportunity to prove we have as good a group of players as any in Scotland and we want to go and do to other teams what Qarabag did to us. They are a group that is better than us and they have gone out and shown that. Now we need to do that in the league here.
“There is still a hunger and a desire from this group to do well this year. The next incentive is to go and beat Ross County on Sunday, to stay at the top of the league. That’s always the way. We beat Häcken 5-1, then the immediate thought was “what’s next?” It’s the same tonight after we lost to a better team.
“But in Europe in particular, it’s a long-term process to get better, to close the gap – their coach has been there 14 years or something! The aim is to get better year on year. If we can be in these play-offs again next year, I hope we will be in a position to handle it better. That’s the challenge.
“Häcken were a very good team, so were Breidablik, they were not easy to beat. An average team wouldn’t have come through those rounds. Last week, I touched on the fact that an average team loses 3-0, 4-0 in Baku. Tonight, they showed their ability again and we met our match. But the hunger and desire we have is brilliant and it will take us a long way this season.”
On a positive note, the Dons confirmed the signing of Marley Watkins earlier today, something which clearly pleased the manager.
“Marley has pace, energy, quality at the top end of the pitch which is something we need to add to what we already have. We’re delighted we got him, when we started speaking to him, he wanted to come here, he wants to get up the top end of the league and he talked about unfinished business. He’s coming here for the right reasons and that’s important.”
