Jimmy Thelin pointed to the progression Aberdeen have shown over the last week as the roots of their 4-0 demolition of Dundee at Pittodrie.
“I think the Motherwell game, before the last five minutes, was a step in the right direction. We pushed really hard in the last 20 minutes in that game for a victory. We got really punished, but the team and the staff have been really focused and calm. The pressure is there, but we focused day by day to try to do the things we can control and try to get better.
“Then Shakhtar was another step in the right direction, and today, finally, we got everything connected. We have a clean sheet, we were good in transitions, better in the duels, and also, of course, the way we play in some parts of the game, how we score the goals. The mix of goalscorers is super important for us in the long run. We can’t rely on only one person, so it’s good that it’s a mix.
“We still have things to improve for sure, but we’re growing week by week with the team now. We talked at the Shakhtar game, the connection with our support is so important, and we have to do our thing first, show the effort on the pitch, then we get this connection and energy. Today, from the start of the game, the connection was there. The team is putting the effort in, and also get more of what they deserve. In some of the other games, the performance has been okay sometimes, and we have had a lot of scoring chances, but no goals and no clean sheets, so I’m so pleased for everybody connected with Aberdeen Football Club that they get this result today at home.
“We were focused on the right things before this game, and we’re going to stay focused, training by training, game by game, because we know we have a lot of things to improve and a long season ahead of us. We have to enjoy this moment now, but then we prepare for the next game.
“I can’t control the situation outside, what everybody’s thinking and what can happen with me because I’m the manager. I’m responsible for the results. But I have to stay focused even in the hard times and in the good times on the right things. My focus is always there. We can’t control other things.
“When you have difficult times, as long as you feel that everybody’s connected and believe in the same thing, the energy is there and you see training every day, then if you keep working, everything can turn around and get what you deserve in the end.
“It’s one thing if you don’t see the energy and the training sessions and the belief is not there. But you can see for some games in a row now that we’re growing and everybody believes and we’re working for the same thing. That’s why I’m so happy that I know how hard every player is working.
“Jesper is proof of this. I think you have seen from every game that Jesper is getting a little bit better, because he needs this game intensity, the game fitness. We have pushed him quite hard because of his background, and he has played quite a lot, but still he recovered really well and has this mentality to step out on the pitch again and take responsibility, so I’m really happy for him. But it’s a team game, so when the team is working better, the individual is also shining more. It’s always this combination of everything tat goes into making this result.”
