RYAN JACK last week spoke to RedMatchday Magazine about the start to the new season:   Here we are, back again for another season with the ink barely having dried on the last one yet. For the third year in a row, it’s an early kick-off to things with Europa League qualifiers starting things off, ensuring that there’s barely been a break for players and supporters alike.   You might be forgiven for being a bit jaded by it all, but skipper Ryan Jack is raring to go and relishing another crack at the continent.   “Even with the tough draws that we have had in the last two seasons, I think we’ve more than held our own in both campaigns. The first year against Groningen and Real Sociedad, who were the strongest team in the qualifiers, we gave a good account of ourselves. Last year when we drew Rijeka, they hadn’t been beaten at home but we went go over there and won 3-0, so it shows the type of character we have in the changing room.   “Even before that, Shkendija were a good side and caused us problems. We watched the video and the manager and Doc had watched them as well, and they had made us well aware it was going to be a very tough game as it proved to be, but we got through it. Against Rijeka we were kind of hanging on at Pittodrie when we went 2-0 behind, but we managed to get a goal straight away and get back into it. With Almaty, there are no excuses, we gave a good account of ourselves but came up short.   “It would be nice to go that extra stage into the final qualifying round and get a really big tie this season. That is what you want as a player, you want to get as far as you can in the competition. Last season we felt like we should have got through the Almaty tie. It wasn’t to be but all the experiences we have had, we can use it for this campaign.

“We of course will give Fola Esch our full respect and know we will have to put in two good performances to get through the tie.   “It’s a different type of football. Where Scotland is quite quick, very end to end, the European stuff is more technical. I love playing in the games, it’s always more exciting going abroad and getting geared up for going into that big match”.   Big matches will be coming thick and fast over the next couple of months because the domestic fixture list has thrown up a tough start with three of the top four to be faced in the opening four fixtures.   “It is quite a tough start. St. Johnstone away is always a tough fixture but it’s one that we are looking forward to. We always take an excellent support there, as we do when we travel anywhere, so that’s going to be a great way to kick off the league season. Hopefully we can get off to a good start in Europe and that will set us up for that game.   “The way we played in Europe last year was very good and the fans could see we were playing exciting stuff and it made them want to get behind us and be there for when the league campaign started. The way we started in the league was excellent with the eight wins in a row and hopefully we can do something similar to that this season.   “The league will be even stronger this season. Celtic have a new manager, Rangers are back, other teams have added to their squads the way we have, so it’s going to be interesting. Most of the teams will try and keep the core players they have and try and add two, three or four onto that, so we know it will be even more competitive.   “Our new lads have settled in well, and the trip we’ve had away already have helped with that. They mix with the boys all the time and get to know each other a bit better. It’s good to be back to see all the lads and a bit of banter flying around already.   “We’ve got a great dressing room and I think there is no real introducing to be done. You meet the guys on the first day and from then on they are your teammate, you welcome them into the changing room and take it from there.”   One familiar face, albeit in a new role, is Barry Robson. How has he taken to his new coaching job?   “On the first day when I came in for training the first person I saw was Baz getting out of his car with his staff kit on! He has a lot of knowledge in the game, has played at the highest level and for players like me, as a fellow midfielder, it is good to see him on board and hopefully he can teach me a thing or two.”   Looking back on last season from a little bit of distance now, the disappointment of the last couple of weeks has fade and everyone is recognising again just what a great campaign it was. How does Ryan look back on it all?   “We got off to that great start and were looking so strong with the momentum and then we had the dip. There are probably things we have all looked at as players and thought we could have done better, maybe our organisation wasn’t right at little things, set pieces, throw-ins. There are things to improve on, but we did have a strong season, there is no denying that, and we will look to build on it again.   “I think for a squad like ours because we are back early to do the European stuff, I think the winter break will be good, just to give us a week off and recharge the batteries and then we can get back at it again, so we can have a big push at the end of the season.”   Ryan is into his second season as skipper at Pittodrie now, but what did he learn from last season’s baptism of fire?   “You are always learning as a player, doesn’t matter if you are a captain or not, but obviously it was a new role and a lot of things had to be done. I think that it’s going to help me having a years experience, hopefully it will all be that bit more familiar this time around. The key thing is the same as ever – getting good results. With the squad that we’ve got and the players the manager has added, I think we can do something special this season.   “We’d like to do better in the cups again. We were more than frustrated and disappointed in what we gave in the cup games last season, especially the Hibs one when we felt that we should have put that to bed. We want to go as far as we can in the cups, lifting trophies in front of our fans and having a day down Union Street would be tremendous again. We want to go as far as we can and have good cup runs and improve on our points tally on last season.”

“We of course will give Fola Esch our full respect and know we will have to put in two good performances to get through the tie.   “It’s a different type of football. Where Scotland is quite quick, very end to end, the European stuff is more technical. I love playing in the games, it’s always more exciting going abroad and getting geared up for going into that big match”.   Big matches will be coming thick and fast over the next couple of months because the domestic fixture list has thrown up a tough start with three of the top four to be faced in the opening four fixtures.   “It is quite a tough start. St. Johnstone away is always a tough fixture but it’s one that we are looking forward to. We always take an excellent support there, as we do when we travel anywhere, so that’s going to be a great way to kick off the league season. Hopefully we can get off to a good start in Europe and that will set us up for that game.   “The way we played in Europe last year was very good and the fans could see we were playing exciting stuff and it made them want to get behind us and be there for when the league campaign started. The way we started in the league was excellent with the eight wins in a row and hopefully we can do something similar to that this season.   “The league will be even stronger this season. Celtic have a new manager, Rangers are back, other teams have added to their squads the way we have, so it’s going to be interesting. Most of the teams will try and keep the core players they have and try and add two, three or four onto that, so we know it will be even more competitive.   “Our new lads have settled in well, and the trip we’ve had away already have helped with that. They mix with the boys all the time and get to know each other a bit better. It’s good to be back to see all the lads and a bit of banter flying around already.   “We’ve got a great dressing room and I think there is no real introducing to be done. You meet the guys on the first day and from then on they are your teammate, you welcome them into the changing room and take it from there.”   One familiar face, albeit in a new role, is Barry Robson. How has he taken to his new coaching job?   “On the first day when I came in for training the first person I saw was Baz getting out of his car with his staff kit on! He has a lot of knowledge in the game, has played at the highest level and for players like me, as a fellow midfielder, it is good to see him on board and hopefully he can teach me a thing or two.”   Looking back on last season from a little bit of distance now, the disappointment of the last couple of weeks has fade and everyone is recognising again just what a great campaign it was. How does Ryan look back on it all?   “We got off to that great start and were looking so strong with the momentum and then we had the dip. There are probably things we have all looked at as players and thought we could have done better, maybe our organisation wasn’t right at little things, set pieces, throw-ins. There are things to improve on, but we did have a strong season, there is no denying that, and we will look to build on it again.   “I think for a squad like ours because we are back early to do the European stuff, I think the winter break will be good, just to give us a week off and recharge the batteries and then we can get back at it again, so we can have a big push at the end of the season.”   Ryan is into his second season as skipper at Pittodrie now, but what did he learn from last season’s baptism of fire?   “You are always learning as a player, doesn’t matter if you are a captain or not, but obviously it was a new role and a lot of things had to be done. I think that it’s going to help me having a years experience, hopefully it will all be that bit more familiar this time around. The key thing is the same as ever – getting good results. With the squad that we’ve got and the players the manager has added, I think we can do something special this season.   “We’d like to do better in the cups again. We were more than frustrated and disappointed in what we gave in the cup games last season, especially the Hibs one when we felt that we should have put that to bed. We want to go as far as we can in the cups, lifting trophies in front of our fans and having a day down Union Street would be tremendous again. We want to go as far as we can and have good cup runs and improve on our points tally on last season.”