Aberdeen

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "I'm so pleased with the performance. The players put in so much hard work in training, and in other games, and didn't get the results or goals.

"We saw some signs against Shakhtar on Thursday night, and also the connection between the fans and the team growing. The energy was back.

"Today, we started the game really well and the connection with the fans was there. They saw the players' effort. That's how we grow stronger.

"The connections in the team are growing. It was important to have a clean sheet today, and be front-footed. We pushed for a victory against Motherwell, and against Shakhtar.

"We have to keep this energy. It's important that when you represent Aberdeen Football Club, you show this energy."

"We know Jesper's qualities. He's adapting, every game he's getting better and better and finding more relationships with teammates.

"He's also getting fitter, and more match fit. The whole team is growing. Everyone has their specific skills. I'm happy with the whole team. Jesper is doing really well now.

"We need to stay focused on the right things and take it game by game. We're growing. The front-foot approach is there. We have to keep pushing and taking it game by game."

Lutz Pfannenstiel, the former German goalkeeper who is in the running to become sporting director at Aberdeen, is also in talks with Borussia Monchengladbach. (Scottish Sun), external

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Manager Jimmy Thelin admits there is no escaping the importance of Aberdeen's clash with Dundee on Sunday.

The Dons have only won one of their 11 fixtures in all competitions this term and are bottom of the Premiership table with just one point and no goals from their six league matches.

Aberdeen put in a better performance in their 3-2 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League on Thursday to ease some of the pressure on Thelin, but he knows the team must win to get their league campaign up and running.

"Of course it's important. We know where we are on the table, so now all focus is on the Dundee game," Thelin said.

"We have to recover and perform really good to get the points and get into the league, and starting from there build game by game.

"That's what we have to focus on because we are where we are."

Midfielder Stuart Armstrong echoes his manager and believes Thursday's match will give the Dons the boost they need before Sunday.

"You want to take the positives from Thursday but also want to turn it into something that's real - points, wins, goals," said the 33-year-old.

"Considering our start, it places a greater importance on getting a win against Dundee. Everyone at the club knows how important it is.

"The positivity of the last 20 minutes on Thursday will fuel us and give us some energy going into Sunday."

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Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack is again urging local government to back a new community stadium at Aberdeen Beach after a study claimed it would double the club's contribution to the local economy to £64m a year.

The club-commissioned report by Biggar Economics estimates the project would create 700 new jobs, support more than 600 jobs through construction, address the city's shortfall of community all-weather pitches and bring an additional 110,000 visitors to the city each year.

"This is not just about a new stadium for Aberdeen FC, it's about what's best for our city and our citizens," said Cormack.

"The club can and wants to play a major role. But it's not for us to lead on it, nor can we drive it forward alone. We would urge our city leaders to share this ambition and deliver the right environment in which economic growth and communities can flourish.

"Realising this opportunity is in the hands of our council leaders. Only they have the mandate and the ability to secure public, capital investment to drive such a transformational project.

"And with this study showing the project would deliver at least £1.6b of economic uplift over the next few decades, the economic case for a return on investment is utterly compelling."

Council tax in Aberdeen rose by 9.85% this year, with finance convener Alex McLellan saying the council faced "incredibly challenging" circumstances and "incredibly difficult" decisions.

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• Aberdeen have won their past three league meetings with Dundee, after having only won two of their previous seven beforehand (D3 L2).

• Dundee are winless in 16 league visits to Aberdeen (D5 L11) since a 2-1 victory in May 2004 under Jim Duffy.

• Aberdeen have become the first side to fail to score in each of their opening six matches of a top-flight season since Aberdeen themselves in 1999-00. The last side to go seven games without a goal at any stage of a Scottish Premiership campaign were Livingston from October to December 2023.

• Dundee have won just one of their seven league games this season (D3 L3) and are winless away from home in the Scottish Premiership this term (D2 L1).

• Dundee have both had the fewest shots (50) and faced the joint-most shots (95, level with Dundee United) of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season.

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Aberdeen full-back Alexander Jensen is available after missing Thursday's Conference League defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk through suspension but defender Kristers Tobers (knee) is out long term.

Dundee have Simon Murray, Paul Digby and Yan Dhanda back in their squad but have fitness doubts over Callum Jones and Billy Koumetio. Cesar Garza is still away with Mexico Under-20s.

Lutz Pfannenstiel, a candidate for the sporting director role at Pittodrie, was at Friday's Aberdeenshire Cup final between Aberdeen and Formartine United. (Press & Journal - subscription required), external

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen ended a 549-minute goal drought in their 3-2 Conference League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk, with Stuart Armstrong hoping it is a platform for better things to come.

A Jesper Karlsson spot-kick gave the Dons an early lead at Pittodrie on Thursday, although the classy Ukrainian side hit back.

"It was a relief when Jesper stuck the penalty in," explained Scotland midfielder Armstrong.

"It was a sort of clear the air, we can score a goal and build from that.

"When you don't score a goal in a few games it becomes the talking point and that is where we need to be calm within ourselves and remain focused and remain positive to show that we can be a good football team.

"I think we have shown great ability to get two goals, to show that we can do it. Sometimes it's like buses, one comes along and hopefully there are many more to come."

Aberdeen must go again on Sunday as they seek a first Premiership win of the season at home to Dundee and can take heart from a strong finish against Shakhtar.

"You want to take the positives but you want to turn it into something real; goals and points," added Armstrong.

"Every game is big but considering our start it places a greater importance on getting a win and that is what we will be looking for. Everyone at the club, we know how important the game is.

"The positivity of the last 15, 20 minutes tonight, I think will fuel us and give us some energy going in to Sunday."

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We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 3-2 defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League, which extended the Dons' winless run to eight games.

Here's what some of you said:

Spencer: We played well, we fought well. It's a shame it adds another L on the board. Hopefully we take this performance into Sunday and this is what turns our fortune around! Back the team. Back the players. Back Jimmy Thelin.

Ross: Fair play to Aberdeen; we were up against a real top team and didn't disgrace ourselves. Maybe, just maybe, there are signs of green shoots of recovery but we absolutely cannot draw another blank on Sunday!

Brian: Hugely disappointed and encouraged in equal measures. Disappointed that we didn't get a point against an excellent team but pleased with the performance, the endeavour and structure of our play. Still backing Thelin.

Fred: A much stronger performance than of late but still a home defeat. We fought hard but were outplayed for most of the game. It is a sign of the times that we will look on a defeat as a positive. Still not strong in defence and where are our forwards?

Stuart: The desire to do well was there for the fans to see. Shakhtar are essentially a Champions League team and it was easy to see why. Slick, fast passing and clinical finishing. Second-half performance from Aberdeen gave us a lot of hope and the fight we crave was evident. Needs to continue into Sunday against Dundee. Jimmy was very positive after the game.

Marty: Much, much better from Aberdeen against a top European opponent. It was a game no one expected us to win, and there were occasions, especially in the second half when we looked the better team. The workrate and effort from the players was immense, but there is still a little bit of composure required at times.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Nicky Devlin says the positives Aberdeen can take from their Conference League display against Shakhtar Donetsk will count for nothing if they don't beat Dundee in the Premiership on Sunday.

The Dons ended a six-game run without a goal by taking the lead at Pittodrie before succumbing to a 3-2 loss to the the Ukrainian league leaders.

Aberdeen will hope it can be a turning point in a season where they have mustered just one win in 11 games in all competitions and occupy bottom spot in the Premiership.

Right-back Devlin, who scored his side's second goal against Shakhtar, said: "We have to win on Sunday. It is as simple as that, none of this means anything if we can't go and win.

"It was definitely a better performance, but unless we go and build on it, it doesn't really mean much.

"A good performance is the minimum we should be giving, the effort, workrate and fight should be a given.

"It is now about building on it and making sure we go into this international break off the back of winning this game on Sunday."

While Aberdeen will get some plaudits for their continental showing, manager Thelin remains under serious pressure.

His team go into Sunday's visit of Dundee four points adrift at the bottom with no league goals and just one point from their opening six games.

"The pressure is maybe something we have not handled well so far this season in games that we have lost," Devlin added.

"It is something we have to improve on. If you don't want to play under pressure then it is probably not the place to come to play.

"It's a one-club city and there is pressure on you all the time to go and win games. It is nothing new but we have to be better in those moments."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Three fresh summer arrivals were named by Jimmy Thelin in his starting XI to face Shakhtar at Pittodrie, and all three repaid their manager's show of faith despite the Dons' narrow defeat.

Stuart Armstrong, Marko Lazetic, and Jesper Karlsson were industrious when needed and dynamic going forward when freed up.

Lazetic, once of AC Milan, arrived to much acclaim, as did on-loan Bologna winger Karlsson, and both showed their potency and threat.

The former looked promising, with his ability to hold the ball up and create shooting space for himself in tight spaces, adding another dimension to an attack that had been blunt for months.

While the latter showed some much-needed confidence to bury his early penalty and remained lively, showing his determination to pitch in for the side and defend as part of a unit, too.

Armstrong was crucial in linking the play but did his best work off the ball, working doggedly to stop the visitors progressing into the final third.

Read more: Are Aberdeen showing signs of releasing handbrake?

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Former Aberdeen defender Willie Miller on BBC Sportsound

You felt when it went to 3-1 Aberdeen decided they had nothing to lose although at that point you are a bit nervous it could get embarrassing.

All of a sudden they opened up, the whole game was turned on its head. Marko Lazetic's turn and strike was something special.

It tells you so much when the fans stay back and applaud a team that has shown a bit of guts and determination and some good play to get themselves back into the game. You can see that things are beginning to turn around.

BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English on Sportsound

Aberdeen made a real fight of it and scored a couple of goals, maybe that's going to unlock something. Maybe mentally when you don't score a goal for so long, it's got to be a problem.

I thought they played pretty well and lost it. They need to back it up now at home to Dundee and away to St Mirren.

Former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson on BBC Scottish football podcast

Jimmy Thelin has tweaked the formation a wee bit, they were a bit more defensive, they looked a bit more solid.

But the game against Dundee on Sunday, the expectation is to win. I would be surprised if he plays the 5-4-1 system again because he's going to have to dominate possession and create more chances.

Lutz Pfannenstiel, who held talks with Aberdeen about becoming director of football, is in negotiations about taking that role with Borussia Monchengladbach after the 52-year-old's recent exit from St Louis City. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Aberdeen's wretched winless run extended to eight games despite signs of encouragement, as ruthless Shakhtar Donetsk carved out a Conference League win at a raucous Pittodrie.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "I think in the first half we were on the back foot a little bit.

"Shakhtar are a good team and in the second half we were not happy with how they scored the goals. We scored two goals against them and when you do that you have to be more stable to get a point or win the game.

"We have to learn from this now.

"The positive thing was that when we are connecting with the fans, showing some desire, passion, and personality on the pitch and fighting for Aberdeen football club then the connection with the fans is really really strong.

"We have to build on this now and learn from this that we always have to go out on the pitch to show how hard we are fighting for them.

"We did that today, the fans pushed the players to the last minute. We have to have that mentality every game. Now we will see the strength of character we have as a team in another important game on Sunday.

"Of course we are disappointed to lose the game but proud of the players how they pushed to the last minute and tried to get an equaliser.

"When we release the handbrake and start playing then everybody grows. We have to stay at this level of performance that we ended the game. We have to believe in ourselves and show the fans they can believe in us."

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Steven Pressley wants his side to capitalise on any fatigue in Aberdeen's ranks as Dundee seek to win at Pittodrie for the first time in 21 years.

Aberdeen - bottom of the Premiership with just one point from six matches - host Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday in the Conference League before welcoming Dundee to Pittodrie this weekend.

And Pressley believes that schedule could benefit Dundee, who last played on Saturday when they lost 1-0 at St Mirren.

"The exertions of European games certainly take their toll and hopefully it does impact them on Sunday," he said.

"First and foremost, we have to make sure we're at it and going there with real energy. If we do that, I think we can get something."

Aberdeen also lost their last outing - against Motherwell - but Pressley is under no illusions about the scale of the task, despite Jimmy Thelin's side's struggles.

"It's a very important game for ourselves. They have got some really good players and we are aware we haven't won up there since 2004, before Tony Yogane was actually born.

"That tells you the size of the challenge, but we've trained well this week. We look hungry, we look ready and we've got players returning from injury and suspension."

Claire Thomson
BBC Sport Scotland

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Two struggling clubs and two managers under pressure. But there might be more similarities between Aberdeen and Manchester United than meets the eye, says football analyst and Dons fan JJ Bull.

Both Jimmy Thelin and Ruben Amorim have faced scrutiny as Aberdeen sit bottom of the Scottish Premiership with no goals and just one point, while United lie 14th in the Premier League having lost to Arsenal, Manchester City and Brentford.

Despite both sides seemingly creating a lot of xG (expected goals), Bull insists the statistics are misleading.

"The chances Aberdeen are creating are not of high value," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"The players are missing chances. They're missing them close in, but if you go through a lot of the shots, a lot of them are early and rushed.

"Other statistics show the idea is to play over the top quickly, get the ball forward quickly, chase it up, play one on one against the defenders, and generate chances that way.

"But that's not working and might actually be a fairly unsustainable way of generating chances.

"It's exactly the same problem that Man United have got.

"They create chances but they're not really chances. For example if you're shooting from left half space on your left foot and you're 25 yards out, you'll generate 0.2 xG, but you're not going to score.

"So there are lots of chances that keep being generated that are not of high value.

"You can expect more from some of the players but when they get the ball wide and put the ball low into the box, that would generate high xG chances, but the crosses are always poor.

"It's a mixture of system and individuals, like bad decisions, either shooting too early or not playing the pass when they could, or not having a settled shape in the final third."

Robbie Boyle
BBC News Scotland

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Shakhtar Donetsk fans will be "expecting" victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, says a Ukrainian football expert.

The side managed by former Turkey midfielder Arda Turan went top of the Ukrainian Premier League at the weekend.

But there has been some disappointment that they find themselves in the Conference League after they played in the Champions League last season, according to London-based journalist Andrew Todos.

"There is an expectation that Shakhtar should be making the knockout rounds at a bare minimum," he told BBC Scotland.

"There will be disappointment if they don't come away with something and I think a win at Pittodrie is really what most are expecting."

It has been an era of change at the club following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the big-money departure of some top talent from Brazil, which the club have become known for developing.

Despite all the change, the match will still put the leaders of Ukraine's top flight up against the bottom side in Scotland, something Todos believes has given the supporters that expectation of victory.

He added: "It is kind of opposites facing off against each other.

"I think they are in the top-six favourites of the bookies to win the competition so they should be going quite far in it.

"You see some of the players they have got now, it is like the Shakhtar of old. Because of the invasion in 2022, a lot of Brazilian and foreign players left.

"But three seasons on there's new Brazilian stars and a Ukrainian defensive core, so it'll be interesting to see how they get on."

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Aberdeen have had to take advantage of new Uefa regulations to make a late change to their Conference League squad after defender Kristers Tobers was likely ruled out for "a significant part of the season".

The January signing has been replaced with on-loan Tottenham Hotspur centre-half Alfie Dorrington as Jimmy Thelin's side prepare to host Shakhtar Donetsk in Thursday's competition opener.

Latvia international Tobers had been making his first appearance at the weekend since a 2-1 defeat by Dundee United in May, but the 24-year-old only lasted 61 minutes of their 2-0 defeat by Motherwell before being forced off with a knee injury.

Aberdeen say: "Medical staff are working closely with specialists to determine the full extent of the injury, but it is anticipated Kristers will be out for a significant part of the season.

"Under new Uefa regulations, clubs are permitted to replace long-term injured players with one not previously registered in the Uefa squad list.

"On this basis, on-loan Tottenham Hotspur defender Alfie Dorrington has been added to our European squad."

Dorrington had been a surprise omission from the original squad after the 20-year-old Englishman's return to Pittodrie following his loan spell last season.

Tobers played 12 times last season after arriving from Grasshoppers of Zurich.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told his club website: "We are all hugely disappointed for Kristers, particularly as he had worked so hard to return to the squad last weekend."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin says Thursday night's visit of Shakhtar Donetsk is a chance to "show everybody we are a good team".

The Dons take dismal form in the Conference League opener as they languish bottom of the Scottish Premiership with one point from six games and no goals scored.

"I know you are coming back to the start of the season, it is no secret, but we also have to be strong in our conviction that we can turn things around," said Thelin.

"This is another chance for us tomorrow to get the team going in the right direction and compete and show everybody we are a good team and that we are going to every week hopefully get another step to the performance we want to show and hopefully get the results."

The visit of the expensively-assembled Ukrainian league leaders represents a tough assignment for Aberdeen.

But it is also an opportunity to surprise those who have written them off before a ball is kicked at Pittodrie.

Thelin said: "I can only speak for myself, I always thinks you should believe in things you are doing. Always stay together and take the steps and never give up, always have this focus that you can improve yourself.

"That is the only way for me to work and we always have to take the challenges. You talk about the pressure, in life and football sometimes it is challenging and you have to find the solutions and be strong in this moment and sometimes the togetherness gets even stronger."

Aberdeen appeared to be heading for a creditable point at Motherwell last weekend before being undone by two added-time goals.

Thelin says the "good" thing about that game was "no player hid, they tried to take responsibility and help each other and they pushed for a win".

"We know the end of that game, but over the performance it was a step in the right direction," he added.

"Of course it is a different kind of opponent tomorrow but I also see that our team is growing and our players are growing so hopefully we can keep working on this now and believe in our own performance and also fight for a good result."

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Shakhtar Dontesk manager Arda Turan is refusing to underestimate struggling Aberdeen, describing them as a club that has "football in their DNA".

The Ukrainian league leaders are huge favourites to prevail against the out-of-form Dons in the Conference League curtain-raiser at Pittodrie on Thursday night.

Former Barcelona and Turkey midfielder Turan said: "We are expecting a difficult game and that is because Aberdeen have football in their DNA, they have a great culture and they have a football history that we should show respect for.

"They have many players with national team background. Against such a club with such a history and experience, you should be very careful."

He added: "In football one 90 minutes are not equal to other 90 minutes. We have a system and we have a quality we rely on, but we also have players that are 18, 19 years old who are coming down here after a trip of 10 hours, passing two borders.

"They might have difficulties adapting to this level. So for tomorrow I believe both sides have equal chances."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Thursday night's Conference League opener with Shakhtar Donetsk at Pittodrie.

Here are the key lines from the Dons boss:

• He says Shakhtar are a "really good team" but Aberdeen are "optimistic" of causing an upset, with the Swede adding: "It is football, 11 v 11, one game."

• On people perhaps writing off the struggling Dons' chances: "They should always have the belief... we believe we can get a good result."

• Asked if this European game could be the catalyst for an Aberdeen revival, Thelin says: "We have to be strong in our conviction that we can turn things around and this is another chance for us tomorrow."

• Despite losing to two added-time goals, the Pittodrie boss insists the performance at Motherwell last weekend was a "step in the right direction", adding that no one hid and the team are growing.

• Thelin says in challenging times "you have to find the solutions and you have to be strong in this moment and sometimes the togetherness gets even stronger".

• Team news: Alexander Jensen is suspended and there are "some small issues from the last game but hopefully everybody is fine tomorrow".