Aberdeen star Angus MacDonald has admitted the Scottish Premiership split has left his friends and family baffled.
Those closest to him thought he was about to head for the beach rather than gearing up to seal a European return. MacDonald’s entire career has been south of the border and so the idea of the league splitting is something of an oddity. They thought the win over Rangers brought the curtain down on their season – not realising they still have another five games to go.
“A lot of friends and family have been asking what are you doing now the season is finished,” MacDonald admitted. “I had to say it is not finished because I still have another five games.” The Dons kick-off with a trip to Rangers next weekend. They then have Hibs and St Mirren at home with Hearts and Celtic away in the split. Aberdeen are five points clear and looking to seal their place as best of the rest. We have got ourselves in a position where we are five points clear,” MacDonald acknowledged. “We have got a couple of big games at home and a couple of big games away but I back the boys to stick in there to get the results we need.”
Aberdeen will head south to Rangers full of confidence, on the back of seven wins on the bounce and six clean sheets in that run. The 30-year-old has admitted it is one of the best runs of his career.
He claimed: “It is probably one of the best spells I have had. I don’t remember a spell where I have kept six clean sheets and won seven games in a row and to be fighting for European football.”
MacDonald, Mattie Pollock and Liam Scales have taken all the plaudits for the defensive record but it is very much a team affair. “You normally look at the top two putting long runs and clean sheets together,” he acknowledged. “It is a massive credit to the team for doing so well recently. “We have three defenders back there who are dying to keep clean sheets and people on the bench, when they come on, who are desperate to keep clean sheets. We have strikers wanting to defend and midfielders getting tight to people and it is all over the pitch, with Kelle (Roos) behind us. There is a massive desire to win games and to get the club back to where it belongs to be.”
Scales has come to the fore again after a rocky spell at the end of Jim Goodwin’s reign. MacDonald has labelled the Irishman as a silent assassin, next to Pollock. The former Hull star claimed: “It is almost like he is there but he isn’t. He is like the silent assassin. He has been getting better and better since I have been here.
“It is like two different people on either side of me. They are both great players who bring something different to the team. Ultimately, they are good defenders.”
Manager Barry Robson has turned Aberdeen’s season around. He is in line to get the job on a long-term basis. Talks are on-going with the hierarchy over an extended deal. MacDonald has been impressed with the job he has done.
MacDonald, speaking to RedTV, stated: “I have been really impressed with the way he influences himself on the training pitch and what he wants. “The hard work we do from what he wants is really showing on a Saturday. “We are breaking fast and getting up the pitch quicker. “We are getting back into shape quicker and the fitness levels are massive and that is something we work on in training. “The players have taken to it. “You get the work done and you get rewarded for it.”
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