Mcinnes isn’t fazed by Dons’ ‘underdogs’ tag
Derek Mcinnes last night insisted Aberdeen can turn Burnley’s Europa League dream into a nightmare.
The Premier League side will get their first taste of European football in 51 years when they face the Dons at Pittodrie on Thursday night.
For generations of Burnley fans, it will be a special moment.
But Aberdeen’s gaffer – leading his side into Europe for the fifth year on the trot – is confident his players can make it a night to forget for the Clarets.
“We’ve always had that belief in the dressing room,” he said.
“Privately, we always set our own targets and demands of each other as a squad and, by and large, we’ve always given ourselves a chance to meet them.
“We’re always very ambitious. The first target is probably to go out to try to be in European football. That’s always been very important to us.
“That’s one of the things we always want to have to look forward to at the start of the season.
“I’ve no doubt everyone will say we’re underdogs for this tie, and I totally understand that. But our boys will be ready.
“Hopefully we’ll have made one or two additions to the squad and one or two will be back from injury.
“When the first ball rolls, there’s a game to be won and we back ourselves to go and deliver a performance.”
Aberdeen will need a real performance to get past Sean Dyche’s side. As Premier League stars, Burnley’s players may count their bank balances in the millions, but prima donnas they are not
The Clarets are a hard- working, organised team, built in manager Sean Dyche’s no-nonsense image.
For Mcinnes, that is something to be admired – though not feared.
“You see how competitive they are as a team,” he said.
“I can imagine that every game means something, especially with the fact they’ve not been in Europe for 50-odd seasons.
“It’s exciting for them. There are generations of fans where this will be their first taste of European football. For the majority of the players it will be the same.
“It’s special playing in Europe and I’m sure they’ll be treating it that way.
“We’re expecting a tough game. Burnley have got players who can hurt you in various ways.
“You don’t finish seventh in the English Premier League by being predictable. You have to be doing a lot of things right.”