Europa league qualifying McInnes sets out to turn the tide in Euro shootout
DEREK McInnes will have to use all his motivational powers if he is to guide his Aberdeen into the play-off round for the Europa League group stage.
A 2-0 defeat to Rijeka in Croatia a week ago, followed by Sunday’s Ladbrokes Premiership defeat to St Mirren in Paisley, may present the Pittodrie side with a psychological problem as they prepare to face their European opponents in the north east tonight.
But McInnes knows that his team is nothing if not resilient, despite being without the injured Sam Cosgrove, a striker who has hit eight goals in as many games so far this season.
And while McInnes might not consider it too relevant, given that it happened in 1984, he could choose to point out that it was then that Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen team recovered from a 2-0 European Cup-Winners’ Cup quarter-final first leg away set-back against Ujpest Dosza in Budapest to win the tie, thanks to a Mark McGhee hat-trick in the return game.
Sure, Cosgrove is an important player for the Reds, but the manager was keen to point out that they have been in this position before.
“We have dealt with being without key players in the past,” said McInnes. “You put a squad together knowing everyone will have to play a part during the season and that’s what needs to happen. We feel this tie is very much still alive.”
Home wins in the previous qualifying rounds against Finland’s Rovaniemi and Chikhura Sachkhere of Georgia have been impressive, a fact from which McInnes takes comfort. Yet he is aware of the consequences of “chasing the result” as he underlined that it is half-time in the tie.
“We can’t give them any more of an initiative by conceding,” he said. “So, the first goal is hugely important. If we get a goal early enough then the complexion of it changes.
“We will be going out to win both halves of football and then see what happens and this is where experience comes in. You have to have the balance right between attacking and defending.
“Rijeka are a strong opponent but we still believe we can get this tie going our way.
“To do that we have to set the tone of the game and make sure it’s not a comfortable night for them.
“We have to be calm, composed and measured in our work. It’s going to take quality in the final third to get through.
“We always try to find a way to ask questions of the opposition.”
Cosgrove is not the only player unavailable tonight. Craig Bryson, brought in to add experience to the midfield, is still trying to recover from