Floriankamberi
Hitman pays tribute to the Dons’ striker coach
Florian Kamberi believes there’s going to be a striking difference in his career at Aberdeen.
The Swiss forward is delighted to be getting specialist coaching for the first time as professional footballer.
Allan Russell joined the Dons as assistant coach to new boss, Stephen Glass, and will combine the job with training the attackers in England’s national side.
Kamberi and his team- mates have loved working with the Scot over the last couple of weeks.
The 26-year-old hit his first goal in Aberdeen colours when Glass took charge of the team for the first time in last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie against Livingston.
He had previously failed to hit the net in eight games for the Dons, and nine with St Gallen in Switzerland.
His arrival on loan was an attempt to end Aberdeen’s goal drought,and he is sure that can happen with Russell’s help.
Kamberi said: “From the first day, Allan has been giving us tips about action in the final third – the first touch is the most- important touch to have the chance to score a goal. “The finishing drills he does are very good. “He wouldn’t be with the English national team if he didn’t understand the game, and he’s training world-class strikers such as Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford.
“I think everyone at the club is delighted to have a guy like that here.
“I’ve never had a specific striker coach before, so I’m delighted with this.
“I will try to take all the benefits that working with him will give me and the team.
“Scoring goals is the best feeling in the world for me, and I think every striker would say the same.
“It’s especially important that I did it in the first game of a new manager.”
Kamberi admits it has taken him some time to regain his sharpness.
He went on: “When I was in Switzerland, I didn’t play a lot for whatever reason, and then I was starting every game for Derek Mcinnes at Aberdeen.
“It’s not easy when you haven’t played for six months – and before that we had four or five months off because of the pandemic.
“But I keep working hard in training, and I’m doing extra stuff in the gym.
“You just have to believe in yourself that you can get there.”
Having previously played for Hibs and Rangers in Scotland, Kamberi doesn’t feel he has to prove his ability to play in the Premiership. But he is looking to do more.
He said: “I think I showed over the last three years in Scotland, with the goals and my performances, that I can be proud of myself.
“But I know it’s still not enough. I always want more.
“There are always things that you want to improve, and with the right people and the right coaching staff, you can get better.
“At the end of the day, it’s about you. You have to be confident, stay calm and never be disappointed if something isn’t happening.
“I’m still young, I know exactly what I have to do and I’m going to do it.
“People like me here in Scotland, so I can’t complain about that. I’ve had a great time since I first came to Hibs.
“I don’t have a thought what might happen in the summer because in football you never know what lies ahead. You can’t plan something.
“After the season is finished, we’ll see what direction my career takes.”
Hitting a winner in today’s Scottish Cup quarter- final against Dundee United at Pittodrie would undoubtedly endear Kamberi to fans of the Granite City club.
He added: “If we keep working and playing like we did against Celtic in midweek, we have a very good chance of getting to the Cup Final. But first we have to beat Dundee United.
“The focus is all on trying to win against United.
“With a new manager coming to the club, it would be a statement that they want to build something here.”