A DUTCH OF LUCK
From Back Page second and that’s our only focus at this stage.
“But we would have accepted the circumstances either way. We’re delighted because it’s about time we got a bit of luck.
“It gives the whole set-up an opportunity to take a breath and everything about our planning will be less frantic and less rushed.
“It’s not just about giving the players an extra couple of weeks to wind down with their families. It’s the things you wouldn’t normally think about.
“Our pitch has already been ripped up and now the new one will have a full two months to knit together properly before the first European tie.
“This just helps to take the pressure off in all manner of areas. It will also be to our advantage in terms of recruitment.
“I’ve found previously a lot of players down south have holidays booked for the middle of June.
“In some cases it’s been difficult to get them up here in time for the start of our own pre-season.
“But most of all I’m pleased for the players who have been here over the last few years, playing in all 12 months of the year.
“It’s about time they got a well-earned break from that schedule because European football is important to this club – it’s something to be enjoyed.
“We don’t want guys thinking, ‘Oh no, here we go again in the middle of June!’.”
With the Dons almost guaranteed second spot in the Premiership due to a six- point lead and vastlysuperior goal difference over third-placed Rangers with two games to go, McInnes’ team will get their reward from UEFA.
Manchester United and Ajax will play out this season’s Europa League Final at the end of the month in Stockholm.
But Jose Mourinho’s team won’t make the top four in the Premier League to gain automatic entry to next term’s Champions League.
With Ajax runners-up in Holland to Feyenoord, who are now managed by former Rangers star Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the winners of the showpiece in Sweden gain direct entry to Europe’s premier tournament.
Scotland, 25th in the UEFA rankings, will move up a place and their topranked Europa qualifier will go to the second round.
Aberdeen will not now start until the second week of July and face six games to make it.
Rangers and St Johnstone will start their Europa League campaigns at the end of next month and need to negotiate eight ties to reach the group stages.
Dons attacker Niall McGinn also admitted it’s a huge boost for the troops.
The Northern Irishman could have left by the time the qualifiers begin with his deal expiring at Pittodrie.
But he said: “It’s going to be massive for the club and also for the players to get that extra two weeks off.
“It’s been a long season. Getting to the League Cup Final and also the Scottish Cup Final, there have been a lot of games played. To get into the next round is a bonus and to be seeded would also be a big plus.
“There’s obviously great optimism within the club that we can get a bit of luck to get to the group stages as that would be unbelievable.”