Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has set out his expectations for his first season in Scottish football.
Thelin, 46, has inherited a squad that finished a disappointing seventh last time out and have seen the likes of Connor Barron, Junior Hoilett and Jonny Hayes depart over the summer.
The ex-Elfsborg manager has added four new additions so far, with more expected to come. That number could depend on whether star striker Bojan Miovski is sold, plus there's still question marks over Luis 'Duk' Lopes' future after the forward failed to return for pre-season.
Despite the uncertainty, Thelin, who guided Aberdeen to a flawless Premier Sports Cup group stage campaign, believes the Dons are ready for the Scottish Premiership season to begin against St Johnstone on Monday.
He also thinks finishing in a European place has to be a priority, although acknowledged the transitional period the club appear to be in.
“Of course we need to be in the upper half to try to achieve Europe but we also have to understand where we are coming from and try to build in the right way and then accelerate the process,” he said.
“We need to have a strong foundation to stand on and then add quality to that. I know the expectations at Aberdeen, everybody knows that, but we need to use that as a positive energy that people and fans believe in us and take it as a good thing, not as a heavy weight.
“We have to challenge for a European spot, that’s important for the club and the fans.”
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Thee Aberdeen hierarchy have continually emphasised that Thelin's appointment was made with a view to the long-term and that the Swede was overseeing a project, following several failed managerial tenures at Pittodrie since Derek McInnes' exit in March 2021.
A sold-out 3,000 strong Red Army will travel to Perth on Monday for their first match of the new campaign, and Thelin understands the importance of getting the fans on side early doors.
“It’s really exciting,” he said. “I think everybody feels that way. It’s time to start with the league and we’re looking forward to it. I think we’re ready.
“We’ve watched St Johnstone really well and I think we’re ready for a good fight and a good game."
"A football club is like one big family, it’s like everybody is connected and wants the same thing,” he went on to explain.
“If you can connect that energy in the same direction so that everybody is on the same track and supporting each other, that is the way you get stronger.
“We can’t have some going this way and some going that way. When I started here, it was a long-term project and it remains a long-term project but we know there will be emotions within games.
“That’s why football is so fantastic because there are so many emotions. The most important thing is trying to find a way to win games and that the supporters feel like when they watch their players in the shirt that they are giving everything they have.”
