We know when we perform we’re a strong outfit
Aberdeen and Burnley come face to face again tonight with both managers looking to get that win which will see their team move into the Europa League 3rd qualifying round.
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes saw his team lead at Pittodrie last week until ten minutes from the end and he said at the pre-match press conference: “I’ve always found in Europe against the better teams and Burnley are up there with anything we’ve played in Europe, you normally need two strong performances. One is normally not enough.
“I felt before the game that we had to score here to probably get through the tie and that’s where we are. Burnley were favourites prior to the game, which I totally understand and with their away goal last week it puts them in the box seat. The onus is on us to score and change that, but I’m confident that we can do that.
“We’ve had some good results on the road in Europe and domestically we’re always strong and we always believe we can score. There was enough evidence from the game last week although we didn’t capitalise on the moments we knew we were capable of scoring on more than one occasion. We recognise the strength of our opponent and we understand they’ll be favourites but for me it’s finely balanced and it’s half time in a cup tie.
“Normally in their own league Burnley, as well as they’ve done, are probably underdogs the majority of the time and they would be happy with that tag. They’ve done fantastically the last couple of seasons and I think in this tie from the outset they are huge favourites. I don’t think they’ll be feeling that pressure. The expectation is Burnley will take care of business and we get that, but it’s up to us to try and change that perception and be as competitive as we normally are.
“As soon as the ball rolls there’s a game to be won. I was asked last week the difference between the clubs and the huge financial gulf and the league Burnley operate in means the financial differences between them and us is huge. My players will be confident to set about that task and we’ll see where we go. We’re not coming down here thinking we’ll be gallant losers and good old Aberdeen putting up a fight. The aim is to get through the tie as it’s been since we were drawn together.”
“That’s something that leaves a high demand on us, internally I mean, and when we get that right we know that we’re a good side. We have proved that for the last few seasons, and definitely last season. You can’t cheat your way to what they achieved in the Premier League last season.
“Now it’s a new season, of course, and your mind has got to be right, your body has got to be right and the tactical framework etc. But we know when we perform we’re a strong outfit, particularly when we’ve got good backing from our crowd, which we’ve had for a long time here. That’s our expectation, the team goes and performs well in order to win the game.”
He spoke about the Burnley supporters too and said: “The good thing about the ‘Burnley Massive’ as I know them now is they know there are no ‘gimmes’. They know we have to work for everything and they’re prepared to back the team to work for everything. That’s certainly what I’ve enjoyed here over the last few years.
“There’s a real positive energy about the reality of the game. Anything can happen, so we have to make sure we’re on top of the game, and they know that, and they can back the players in making sure they get that boost from the fans. Fans are important, there’s no two ways about that. They play a big part in us being what we are and that positive vocal backing they give us definitely helps.”
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