Aberdeen qualifying for Europe is a ‘culture’ as Jimmy Thelin up for Dundee United ‘race’

the-globe

7 minutes ago

Source link : https://love-europe.com/2025/01/22/culture/aberdeen-qualifying-for-europe-is-a-culture-as-jimmy-thelin-up-for-dundee-united-race/

Jimmy Thelin admits Aberdeen are in a race to qualify for Europe but must continue to believe they can do it come May.

The Dons have a rich history in European competition, particularly given they are the only Scottish club to have won two major continental honours in the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Super Cup.

Those remarkable achievements came under the great Sir Alex Ferguson and Aberdeen are never likely to hit those heights again.

But Thelin insists that at the very least, it is in the Pittodrie club’s culture to play European football. And the Swede admits the Dons have a fight on their hands to do so.

Thelin on Aberdeen’s European ambitions

Two points ahead of Aberdeen is Dundee United, who currently occupy third spot in the Premiership. Finishing there offers Europa League football in the summer, with fourth guaranteeing Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Aberdeen, despite their 12-game winless run in the league, remain in a decent position to secure third spot but Thelin insists the race remains very much on.

Speaking ahead of facing St Mirren on Saturday, Thelin said: “I think we are in the middle of a race right now and there’s still a long way to go.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

“We’re still in a good position whatever the run so we have to take this opportunity to try to keep fighting for the European spot and don’t give up on anything at all and we need everyone to push for this because it’s a culture and it’s a belief.

“The more you are, the stronger you are as a club and then also the team so we have to believe in this and keep pushing to the end and then make an evaluation and keep building for the next season.

“But right now in the middle of the season we have to keep fighting for something big.”

Aberdeen’s tough fixture schedule in focus

There’s absolutely no doubt, as Jimmy Thelin has said, that Aberdeen have a fight on their hands to remain in touch with an impressive Dundee United.

The Dons’ next six Premiership games are not easy and one of them includes a huge home encounter with the Tangerines.

Before that game on March 2, Aberdeen have St Mirren at Pittodrie before games against Hibs, Dundee, Kilmarnock and Celtic.

Of course, Aberdeen won’t be judged too much on results against Celtic but they will be against Hibs and Dundee.

Both are away from home for the Dons with Hibs a rejuvenated force and Dundee the third-highest scorers in the top-flight with 37 goals.

It’s an important stretch of games for Aberdeen and will provide us with a clearer indication of their European qualification chances.