Christian hopes he’ll be the winner who takes it all against the Jambos today
Christian Ramirez believes Aberdeen’s play-off return against Qarabag on Thursday will be the biggest game of his career.
The Dons will take on their Azerbaijani opponents at Pittodrie, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, with a place in the new Europa Conference League, and a prize of £3-million, up for grabs.
“I have been involved in some big, big games,” said the 30-year-old American.
“There was my first MLS play-off in LA, and some rivalry games in the States. Then, of course, there was the first time being capped with the national team.
“But this one as the biggest. I know how much this would mean to the club, the supporters and the boss financially.
“That’s how the whole team is approaching it. It’s a great opportunity.”
The striker, who hopes to warm up for the European tie with a win over Hearts today, revealed he has been getting serenaded by his team-mates.
They have latched on to the supporters reworking of the Abba classic, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme to “Give it, give it, give it to Christian Ramirez. Pass him the ball and he will score us a goal”.
“Some of the guys are singing the song to me randomly, and it is catchy. It is good banter to mess around, but it does not go unnoticed,” said Ramirez.
“It makes me feel at home and wanted. That is all you can ask for as a footballer, to have that backing through the good and bad times.
“There is a connection with the fans here which was missing the last couple of years at Houston Dynamo.
“They were some of the toughest times of my career, if not the toughest because I was not getting an opportunity.
“People saying I wasn’t good enough to play and this and that. The reality is that was not the case.
“I had a sour taste in my mouth for the last 18 months, having to bite my tongue hearing those comments.
“I continue to use it as motivation to keep doing well, score goals, win and get into the group stage of the Europa Conference League.
“Hopefully I can help bring some silverware to Aberdeen.”
Beni Baningime is in Scotland to get back to the top in football – and he has the backing of Duncan Ferguson.
The Hearts midfielder got to know Big Dunc well during more than 10 years at Everton.
He spoke to the former Dundee United and Rangers striker before making the decision to leave Goodison to try his luck in the Premiership.
The 22-year-old revealed: “Duncan texted me when it was my first game, and was really encouraging me.
“He has always believed in me, and has always said I am going to go back to the top if I just carry on working.
“I know people think he is a hard man, but he has changed. The intensity is still there and he still wants to win. But as a coach, he has calmed down a little bit.
“Duncan has always been very encouraging, even in hard times.
Baningime, who picked up the Man of the Match award on his debut against Celtic, maintains the main attraction of coming to Scotland was to get games.
“I got to a point where I just wanted to play football, and if that was anywhere else in the country, I would’ve gone,” he said.
“It wasn’t about the money, I just missed playing. This is what I have been craving all these years – to have a manager and a team who believe in you.”
Last term, the midfielder was on loan at Derby County, but injuries restricted him to just two appearances.
The move reunited him with former Everton team-mate, Wayne Rooney, now manager at The Rams.
The Congo-born player never let comparisons with N’golo Kante and Idrissa Geuye go to his head.
He said: “I’m not them. I compare myself to myself. I think I’m quite levelheaded, and I don’t get too excited.
“When I got the Man of the Match against Celtic, I went home and spent time with God and spoke to my family. If I’d had the worst game, I’d have done the exact same.
“I had been living the life before, flashy cars and the rest, as you can imagine.
“And then one day, I decided I didn’t like how I was living.”