The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Dons hit Euro trail
Aberdeen face a possible return to the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan in the Europa League after being drawn with either Ordabasy Shymkent or Bosnian club NK Siroki Brijeg in the second qualifying round.
year, Aberdeen beat Macedonian outfit Shkendija and Croatia’s Rijeka before Kairat held the Dons to a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie to eliminate the Reds 3-2 on aggregate.
Last season the Dons made it past Luxembourg’s Fola Esch and Latvia’s Ventspils before being knocked out by Maribor. Caley Thistle manager John Robertson says his players must be prepared for up to three training sessions each day under his new regime.
Robertson last week returned to Caledonian Stadium on a two-year contract, taking over from Richie Foran, who was sacked after the Highlanders’ relegation to the Championship.
The 52-year-old most recently worked in an ambassadorial role at Hearts but has returned for his second spell at Caley Jags, having previously spent two years with the club between 2002 and 2004.
Robertson’s training approach will be similar to that introduced at Hearts by the Tynecastle side’s former head coach Robbie Neilson three years ago, but he says the focus of his sessions will vary.
Robertson, who is close to making out-of-contract Falkirk forward John Baird his first signing of the summer, said: “The players will be training three times a day, which people will raise their eyebrows about. It’s not as Draconian as they might think but we have to look at the modern way of doing it.
“We have to look at technical sessions, physical sessions, running sessions, as well as strength and conditioning. If we can use three sessions rather than two, we will do it.”