Jimmy Thelin has no Europa League regrets as Aberdeen boss targets big stage after Elfsborg miss

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Jimmy Thelin could have been challenging himself in the Europa League group stages but instead is trying to lead on-form Aberdeen to that particular Holy Grail.

He guided Elfsborg into European competition before he made his summer switch to Pittodrie. His former side has qualified for the Europa League and have the glitz and glamour of a visit from AS Roma on Thursday night. Elfsborg lost out to AZ Alkmaar on matchday one but also has upcoming games away to Galatasaray, Atletico Bilbao and Tottenham Hotspur, along with home clashes against Braga, Qarabag and Nice.

Thelin has insisted he has no regrets about missing out on that Europa League experience. It perhaps has been couched by the start his red-hot Aberdeen squad has made to the new season, winning all 12 of their opening games. He insisted: “I don’t think about what I am missing. I am so happy to be here. I take this challenge but I think it is important to be consistent to play in Europe.

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“It is important for the club, supporters and it is really important for the players to cope with that tempo of the games and every week use our mentality to challenge yourself to grow. That is where you want to be (Europe), on that level to feel good. Everybody learns from that and grows.

“We get better and better in that environment. It is better for Aberdeen in the future to be there again. We have been there and we have to look forward to it again.”

Aberdeen made the group stage of the Europa Conference League last season under Barry Robson but the team struggled trying to balance the demands of that and domestic matters. Hearts are also experiencing something similar this season and head coach Stevie Naismith has already lost his job.

The Jambos are the latest visitors to Pittodrie this weekend and head there after an energy-sapping trip to Azerbaijan to take on Dinamo Minsk in the Europa Conference League on Thursday. Aberdeen’s clear midweek calendar has meant that Thelin has had no such distractions and his team have been able to match champions Celtic stride for stride. Thelin, however, knows his team would far rather have the headache of European football.

He said: “If you ask the players if they want to train or play, it is an easy answer. They want to play. Me also, I don’t need to plan anything. It is just a case of here we go again. I don’t think about it so much. You always need to adapt and see the solutions of reality. If Aberdeen had been in Europe then we would need to take that challenge.

“We would have to try and find a solution from that. We always try not to think about why, if or these types of things. We aren’t in Europe and now we have to make the best plan from that.”

Aberdeen face the Jambos and then after the international break go into their most challenging spell of the season so far. They have a top of the table clash at Celtic, entertain Dundee United and Rangers before they have their Premier Sports Cup semi-final with Celtic.

Thelin is looking forward to going to Hampden but admitted that it is something for the future and the immediate priority is the league and that starts with Hearts this weekend. The Aberdeen boss cautiously said: “Now we know who we are going to play against. “They are a good team and we look forward to the semi-final. Right now we are focusing game-by-game. Ask me again before that game.”

Aberdeen are still waiting for the specialist report into Pape Habib Gueye’s training ground injury. The top scorer missed the weekend win at Dundee and the fear is that he could be out until the next year.