Aberdeen

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Aberdeen midfielder Alexander Briedl has delayed hooking up with former team-mate Martin Moormann, telling the Motherwell centre-back they will have to meet first on Tuesday "but not as friends".

The Austrian pair played together for Blau-Weiss Linz but left this summer after they were relegated after finishing bottom of their homeland's Bundesliga.

Now the compatriots will be reunited as the Dons visit Fir Park in the Scottish Premiership on Tuesday.

Briedl said of his friend: "Yeah, I still speak to him sometimes. This week, but not about the game.

"Because we were staying in a hotel close to Glasgow, he asked if we could meet up, but it was difficult on Saturday.

"I said to him, 'we'll see each other on Tuesday. But not as friends'."

Meanwhile, Briedl hopes Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final, when they defeated Kilmarnock on penalties after drawing 1-1 at Rugby Park despite being down to 10 men, will ease the pressure after ending a three-game wait for a victory.

"It will be a tough game, but I think after Saturday we want to stay in the flow and take this to the next games, for the upcoming games before the international break," the 24-year-old added.

"I think there is no pressure for us. We've got a new team with a lot of new players.

"We have to find each other and I think Saturday's win is also a turnaround for all of us, hopefully. It could be very important."

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• Only Benjamin Nygren (21) and Djeidi Gassama (13) have created more chances in the Scottish Premiership this season than Motherwell's Emmanuel Longelo (11), who also ranks joint-third for big chances created (four) and third for expected assists (1.5).

• Aberdeen have failed to score in each of their past four league games. Indeed, since the start of 2025-26, the Dons have drawn a blank in a Scottish Premiership-high 20 matches.

• Motherwell, who are yet to concede at home in the Scottish Premiership this season, have kept 14 clean sheets at Fir Park since the start of last season in the competition - the most at home of any side.

• Aberdeen have lost three of their past five Scottish Premiership games against Motherwell and could lose successive league meetings with the Steelmen for the first time since November 2021.

• Motherwell have won each of their past three home league games against Aberdeen, as many as across their previous 16 beforehand.

Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Muller, 33, gave a passionate speech to thank his team-mates in the wake of Saturday's League Cup win on penalties at Kilmarnock after having had a "tough week". (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

Dons fans, we asked for your views after Saturday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final victory against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

Eric: A good confidence builder and we played well in spells as a team, some very poor penalties from Killie. This will only mean something if we can get some points out of the next two crucial games and build on that.

John: Glass half full, great to see the four shots in the last five minutes, much more spirit. That was Mats Knoester's best game and some good drives forward by Nesta Guinness-Walker. Toyosi Olusanya deserved more support for his hard graft. Progress is being made, long way to go.

Mike: Much better but one swallow doesn't make a summer

Justin: Great to see signs of heart and graft and of course to get the win. Dan Happe needs to be more pre-emptive in his defending because he can't get caught out so easily

Malky: I have to say the first five minutes were superb then I'd argue it was fairly even the rest of the first half. But in the second half, and especially when down to 10, I thought to a man Aberdeen were superb. They worked so hard and ran their socks off, they deserve so much credit for that. I say this a lot, but a result and performance like that HAS to be a catalyst now, have to dig in and get going now.

Bob: Not sure we deserved to win but once we went down to 10 players we stepped up. Stephen Robinson got the subs spot on, especially Olusanya whose pace and physicality caused the Killie back four real problems. Happe getting sent off was probably a bonus as he had been a liability.

Aberdeen overcame going down to 10 men to beat Kilmarnock on penalties in a thrilling Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie at Rugby Park.

Read our match report here

Have your say here

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson: "I'm really, really proud of the players.

"You know, what they've done tonight was prove with 10 men that they're a really good side, really well organised and when we played to their strengths, down the sides of people, we looked forward, we looked positive.

"Marius [Muller] has just given the boys a team talk there, and we see it in training every day.

"We see the quality, we see the attitude and, you know, he's just said we can do that with 10 men.

"We are very, very good with 11 men, we have to believe that.

"Belief sometimes comes with winning football matches, we haven't done that often enough so far.

"As I say, I just ignore what's going on in the background.

"I have to believe, because I believe in the players that I've brought in, and I believe sometimes there are catalysts in seasons, and perhaps this could be a catalyst.

"I thought in extra time, we looked the stronger side. We looked, you know, a really fit, organised side.

"We've got goals in the side, we believe, and we feel we should have finished the game off before penalties."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen midfielder Stuart Armstrong believes their upcoming run of three away games in a week represents a good opportunity to restore some much-needed positivity at Pittodrie.

The Dons are under pressure after a difficult start to the season, with just one win from their opening five Premiership games.

Having failed to score in their past four fixtures, they were booed off following their goalless draw at home to Kilimarnock last weekend.

Now they face Killie again in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final, with Armstrong saying: "Certainly after the game we could feel the discontent from the fans but also from us as players, we know we can perform a lot better than that.

"But experience has taught me you can't dwell on disappointments too much. Football is such a fast game, you need to ride in that median section, never too high never too low.

"You need to be level-headed when things are good and things are bad."

Trips to Motherwell and Hibs follow Saturday's bid to reach the semi-finals and Aberdeen have not beaten a top flight team on the road this year.

"Pressure is there all the time in football, to win to perform so that is nothing new," added Armstrong.

"What it is is a good opportunity for us to up the performances, get results and get everyone certainly around the club feeling positive again.

"I think there is a genuine belief here. We see it in training, we have shown glimpses of that in games, it is just having that consistent approach to perform and taking our chances."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Embattled Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson cut a bullish figure at his Friday media conference before a hugely significant League Cup tie.

The early pressure is building after a disappointing start to the Premiership campaign, with the Dons taking one point from their past four games and failing to score in each.

Having been roundly booed by their own fans after last weekend's goalless draw at Kilmarnock, can the Dons secure a much-needed victory in Saturday's quarter-final at Rugby Park?

Speaking prior to the trip to Ayrshire, Robinson said: "I don't hear it (the outside noise). I am very, very experienced in what I do, I have a lot of belief in the squad and the staff that I have here so you have to shut the noise out.

"You know it is out there, you have to deal with that, but I am not young so I am not on social media. So I don't read anything but there is a determination around the place to move forward, to keep moving forward.

"Did we deserve that (booing) after the game? Yes, as a group, as a staff, we know that. That is part and parcel of football now, you deal with that, you don't dwell on it and you have to go and try and make up for it."

In the aftermath of last week's game with Kilmarnock, Robinson said his team looked tired.

So does he have any concerns going into a run of three away games in a week - at Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Hibs?

He said: "It is a little bit different, you play Rangers and Celtic, it is mental fatigue as well with a day's less rest, so that is gone.

"They are very much looking forward to the three games in a week and obviously it gives you an opportunity to win more games and progress in the cup."

Over the last number of years there have been more lows than highs for Aberdeen - their 2025 Scottish Cup success being the glaring exception.

From the outside looking in, the managerial hotseat can look a lonely place to be amid testing times. Not so for Robinson, he insists.

"I have a beautiful wife, an absolutely gorgeous wife and two great sons and four dogs, so I am not lonely, certainly not lonely.

"I have got the support where I need it and I have got a lot of support from a lot of Aberdeen fans as well so unfortunately the loud ones are heard more often than the positive people.

"But you come to a club like Aberdeen you expect that. When you are not winning games you have to accept that, you have to deal with it. It happens in football, it is certainly not just Aberdeen."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Saturday's League Cup quarter final at Kilmarnock.

Here are the key lines from the media conference:

• The game could come too soon for newly-signed French winger Hicham Mahou. A late decision will be made on Kevin Nisbet and Stuart Armstrong, who have picked up knocks.

• After claiming his team looked tired during last weekend's 0-0 league draw with Killie, Robinson says it was "mental fatigue as well" following back-to-back fixtures against the Old Firm.

• But he insists his players "are very much looking forward to the three games in a week" and an "opportunity to win more games and progress in the cup".

• Robinson admits his side deserved to be booed at Pittodrie last weekend, adding: "You don't dwell on it. You have to go and try and make up for it, not get too down, keep believing in what we are doing. We would love to send them up the road on Saturday night very, very happy on a long journey north."

• On the criticism amid a poor run of results, the Dons boss says: "I don't hear it. I am very very experienced in what I do, I have a lot of belief in the squad and the staff that I have here, so you have to shut the noise out."

• He insists there is a "determination around the place to keep moving forward."

• It was put to Robinson the Aberdeen job looks often looks a lonely one when the pressure is on. He replies: "I have a beautiful wife, an absolutely gorgeous wife and two great sons and four dogs, so I am not lonely, certainly not lonely."

• He went on: "I have got the support where I need it and I have got a lot of support from a lot of Aberdeen fans as well, so unfortunately the loud ones are heard more often than the positive people."

• On the game, he says it is a "fantastic opportunity" to get to Hampden and Aberdeen are taking "positivity" to Rugby Park.

• After signing Mahou, Robinson thinks that is the club done in terms of bringing in new faces for now.

Midfielder Kjartan Mar Kjartansson, 20, left Aberdeen for Brann fearing it would be hard for him to establish himself at Pittodrie. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

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French winger Hicham Mahou has signed for Aberdeen after leaving Swiss club Lugano this summer, with Dons manager Stephen Robinson suggesting the 27-year-old will "add another dimension to our attacking play".

The right-sided 27-year-old, who helped Lugano finish third in the Swiss Super League last season, has signed a one-year contract, with Aberdeen having an option to extend that by a further year.

Mahou, capped by France at under-16 level, made just 11 starts and 13 substitute appearances last term, scoring once and providing three assists.

But Robinson told Aberdeen's website: "He's a player who we believe possesses attributes that will strengthen the group.

"Hicham is quick, technically gifted and comfortable in one-versus-one situations. He's also hungry to prove himself and excited by the challenge of playing for Aberdeen.

"While he will need time to settle into a new league and environment, we're confident he can make a strong contribution."

Born in Nice of Moroccan descent, Mahou came through his hometown's club's youth ranks and had loan spells with Red Star and Lausanne-Sport before joining the latter permanently in 2021 after just 11 first-team appearances.

With Lausanne-Sport relegated after his first full season, he moved to Super League rivals Lugano and went on to play 108 times, scoring six goals and providing 10 assists in his four years there.

On joining the Dons, Mahou added: "I did my research about the club and I loved what I saw. The atmosphere, the fans, the facilities, it all made me very interested in coming here.

"I think the Scottish league is also a good level and, for me, it is underrated. I saw that I can do something here.

"The manager was really convincing when I spoke to him. He has a great vision for the club."

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

On Saturday, before his team's top-of-the-table clash with Celtic, I asked St Mirren manager Craig McLeish how easy it has been to implement the style of football that is enthralling the Paisley club's supporters amid their then unbeaten start to the league season.

"It's been quite straightforward," was the reply.

The man who led the Saints youth team under Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson has produced a side that plays an exciting, fast-paced brand of football with a clear identity already. Eight new signings started the narrow defeat to the champions as well as Fraser Taylor, who was on loan at Partick Thistle last season.

Contrast that with Robinson's fortunes so far in the north east and Aberdeen's turgid goalless draw at home to Kilmarnock. It is stark.

Aberdeen were often slow and ponderous and were fortunate to take a point, with goalkeeper Marius Muller pulling off several excellent saves to keep Killie out.

The reaction from the Dons support at half-time and full-time was there for all to hear and wasn't lost on Robinson, who must look at their three pre-international window fixtures with trepidation.

They have a rematch in Ayrshire in the League Cup quarter-finals on Saturday evening, a game that was always going to be one of the most important in Aberdeen's season but now carries extra significance and pressure.

The Dons now face three away games against top-flight opponents with trips to Motherwell and Hibernian, following the cup tie, in the Premiership.

They haven't beaten a top-flight club away from home since 6 December last year and have only scored six goals in that abysmal run.

When Robinson was appointed during a sequence of one win in 13 at St Mirren, chairman Dave Cormack said: "There is a strong desire to re-establish a clear identity for our club, to become harder to play against and restore competitiveness in our matches."

The Northern Irishman's former youth coach has proven that is possible.

Dundee rejected a bid of £500,000 for Joe Bevan from a German club and also turned down multiple offers from Aberdeen for midfielder Ethan Hamilton before the transfer window shut. (Courier), external

Aberdeen legend Gordon Strachan thinks the Dons are at risk of relegation this season and insists the turnover of players at Pittodrie cannot continue. (Press and Journal), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

The latest in the line of Stephen Robinson's excuses was that the players were tired from recent travelling.

Not only did the Dons have a fortnight's break before facing Rangers on 30 August, we have only had one away game in a month of football. And that was to Glasgow, not Georgia.

It's just as well we don't have three away games in seven days upcoming... oh, wait.

It's time for excuses and talking to stop. We need to see some real action, identity and more importantly creativity from this Aberdeen side.

Yes, there are 13 new signings, but to be four games into the season and have failed to score a league goal from open play is unacceptable. As is two shots on target against a Kilmarnock side who have conceded 14 times this Premiership season.

With just 11 shots on target across our four matches it is imperative we resolve our issues at the top end of the park soon.

Sadly it feels like time is already against Robinson - the fans made their feelings known at full-time on Saturday.

It's the same opposition this Saturday, so hopefully we aren't too tired from the trip to Ayrshire as a cup defeat might not be the only exit we see in the near future if wins don't start appearing.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

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Do Aberdeen's problems run deeper than the dugout?

Following an underwhelming start to the season that has yielded just one Scottish Premiership win and two goals from five league matches, head coach Stephen Robinson is feeling the heat from the Dons support.

However, after a number of years of player and manager upheaval, Sportscene pundit Ryan McGowan suggests frustrations should be directed elsewhere.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, the Livingston defender said: "Aberdeen are a massive club. They're a club that should be in the top three or four in Scotland with the budget, size of club and fanbase.

"They should be right up there challenging. The fans have gone a lot of seasons now where they have probably not been looking forward to watching their team play.

"For the fans, that's all you just want: to be proud of your team. Of course, you want to see fast, attacking, attractive football, but you also want to just see a team that you identify with and have a real connection with.

"Over the past four, five, six seasons, they've really struggled with that."

On the decision-making at Pittodrie, former Hearts player McGowan added: "The turnover of players and turnover of managers - they just seem to be a club that's almost just making decisions on the spot.

"There's no real forward thinking. Even if you just look at the past three or four managers, they're all almost completely different styles, different nationalities, brought in with different experiences at different stages of their coaching careers.

"Albeit the pressure is on Robinson at the moment, I think a lot of their problems possibly run a bit deeper."

Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Muller admits recent results have not been good enough and says he would have joined in the booing if he had been in the Pittodrie stands on Saturday. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip.

Watch the highlights as Aberdeen and Kilmarnock played out a goalless draw at Pittodrie in the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users only.