Jimmy Thelin issues FCSB rallying cry as Aberdeen not thinking about Europa League safety net

The Dons face a tough night in Bucharest to reach the revamped Europa League group stage

Jimmy Thelin is not interested in the safety of the Conference League because the group stage of the Europa League is the only thing he wants Aberdeen to net.

The Dons battled back from two down to get a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie last week against FCSB. It now comes down to a winner-takes-all clash in the National Arena in Bucharest on Thursday.

The Scottish Cup winners know that even if they lose they will drop into the Conference League but Dons boss Thelin said: “The Europa League is our target. People talk about a safety net but we don’t think in those terms.

“We want to be in the Europa League and we are going to give everything to arrive there. As a manager, player and club you always want to play against the best teams and also believe in yourself, find ways to win games, be the best version of yourself.”

The Swede’s previous play-off experience was in the Conference League in 2021. After a 5-0 thumping away to Feyenoord, Elfsborg did win 3-1 at home but by then the damage had been done.

Thelin said: “It was a bit tricky as we started badly and then had a player sent off. We had to score so we really tried and didn’t sit back. But their keeper got sent off so we pushed everything we could until the end.

“At home they came with the strongest team they had and we started really well and we did everything to win.

“At 2-0 we had a header come off the post that would have made it 3-0. Then they scored to make it 2-1 and the game was dead after that.”

That was a big learning experience for Thelin who also thinks many of his Pittodrie squad can take a huge amount from winning the Scottish Cup last season.

He said: “Against Feyenoord it showed that it is very important how you defend as a team but also when you get chances you have to take them. There are no margins in a cup game.

“The good thing about football is you always have a chance in these play-off rounds so we have to do everything perfectly.

“That’s the learning part –otherwise you are out. It is good that we won the Scottish Cup last season and they got the experience of experiencing that.

“This is a cup game and we have to be concentrating on it like that and not to do things any differently, the focus has to be there.”

When Aberdeen played in the Conference League group stage two seasons ago it had a negative effect on their domestic form, costing Barry Robson his job.

Thelin wants his players to rise to the challenge and to make balancing European and Premiership games a regular occurrence.

He said: “I’m sure the players will grow due to the European league as they will be forced to play really hard games all the time.

“And that is the way you are going to get better.”

Thelin has European experience but even he has had to adjust because normally at this time Elfsborg were in the middle of their season.

He said: “You have to think a little differently with how much you train and how hard you train, to make sure you are ready for these games.

“Which is why we are pushing quite hard now so we can hopefully cope with this. This is what we believe to be the best way.

“You always have to prepare and have calculations for situations.

“You have to build momentum to arrive every year and be a stable team.”