The manager spoke to the media after the Dons draw with St Johnstone at Pittodrie on Saturday.
“I think our performance today was not the best performance we have made this season. We did not have the energy that we want to play with, the intensity.
“I think our supporters have been amazing this season. Today I can understand some frustration. That is normal. That is football sometimes. When you have high expectations. But we keep doing what we are doing, we have to stick together and we have to try and push our limits and be better every week we play and train.
“I think in the game against Celtic there was really good energy and we did not find a way to get out the same energy again. We did not find the dynamic and rhythm of the game and the performance was not as good as we hoped for.
“We have played a lot of games these past two weeks. We have had three away games and then two at home. That is the reality we want always. We want to have a good season and be in Europe playing three games a week. The only way to understand about the mentality and fitness levels that are needed is to live it. We are going to grow and mature in this period and be better in our consistency of performance because we have been a bit up and down. Sometimes between the games, sometimes in the games. To be better at things, you have to live it.
“So far we have had a good season but we are having a difficult period right now. The most important thing is where we are at at the end of the season. Right now, we have to live this and go onto the training pitch and work and come out the other side.”
With no game next weekend, has the mini break come at a good time?
“We have a good squad, but I think it is a good time for us to have a little break.
“I think it will be good to give all the players a chance to recover, get fresh and start again. I would not say reset, because we have Hibernian at home on the 21st but we need to prepare ourselves now and get everyone ready for another game.
“The players will get some time off, but we also need to keep working hard on the training pitch. There are some players who have small issues so it will allow them to the chance to recover so we can train well and get everyone back fit.
“It will be good to get through this period and do some work on the training pitch this week. When things don’t go exactly the way you want, and you have to struggle a bit more, that is a really good way to grow. To learn to manage these situations and to keep the belief in what you are doing. Don’t panic because we are still in a good spot but use that energy to keep working.
“We cannot focus on what is happening with other teams. We have to focus on what we are doing and then see where we land up in May. That is why we have to keep growing.
The manager was then asked about some of the first half performances recently.
“I still think we are a good team over 90 minutes. Usually, we grow over the game. First half’s are usually more competitive as both teams are fresh. Then both teams get more and more open. I don’t look at the first-half or second half is bad. I look at what happens at the end of the game.
“I don’t think it is a really bad period. Some results we did not get because we were not good enough in our performance, but we are still the same team that took a lot of points. We have to keep taking points, we have keep growing and not stop and think everything is fine. It is a long season and a lot of points still to fight for. We need now to recover some players and get everybody ready for the next game.”
