Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Aberdeen will need team men
ABERDEEN need team players not solo superstars if they are to challenge Celtic next season, according to defender Mark Reynolds.
The Dons squad which finished runners-up to the Hoops in all three domestic competitions will lose four of its top performers this summer as Ryan Jack, Niall McGinn, Peter Pawlett and Ash Taylor depart under freedom of contract.
The task now for boss Derek McInnes — should he opt against taking up the vacant Sunderland job — will be to rebuild his Pittodrie side so they can compete on all fronts once more next term.
But centre-back Reynolds believes it is imperative for the Reds’ chances of continued success that those who come in over the next few weeks are capable of working as part of a collective unit.
He said: “I think it’s been a squad that has been the product of a lot of work put in over a couple of years.
“This is the first time we have had to rebuild at all really.
“We’ve not really l ost anyone we didn’t want to lose for three or four years, so this is the first proper break-up.
“But we have got quality players coming in, we have faith in the manager and we’re still an attractive proposition for a footballer wanting to be successful.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to replace the lads leaving. We’ve always said t he strength of Aberdeen is the team, not the individuals.
“We’ll just need to bring in guys who buy into that team ethos and what we’re doing and then I’m sure we’ll be fine.
“The aim for us is always to push Celtic as hard as we can. We accept they are the form team, the champions, the team to chase. But we’ll just try and get as close to them as we can.”