COPE AND GLORY

Thelin warns his players must adapt to group-stage demands - as Dons will be targeting top level every year

- BY SCOTT BURNS

JIMMY THELIN has told his players they must adapt and shoulder the burden of European group-stage football because that has to be the level Aberdeen aims for every season.

The Dons kick off their campaign on Thursday with their Europa League playoff first-round tie at home to FCSB.

Thelin knows regardless of the result that his team will be guaranteed group stage football via the Europa League or if they lose they would drop down to the Conference League.

Its only the third time in their history they've made the group section of a European competition and the last time, two seasons ago, it massively impacted their domestic form and eventually cost Barry Robson his job.

Thelin points to the fact that the top players and internationalists cope with it and he has urged his team to embrace the challenge.

The Swede said: “If you are an international player you play a lot of games when the other players dont play in the international breaks.

“You are still playing and getting used to that load.

“The strength is the quality to perform again and again.

“That is why we have that ambition as a club to be in Europe every year.

“If you have a squad where some have experienced Europe before, some move on for different reasons.

“There are also new players arriving so it is more to get this habit and be strong in our qualities and compete.”

The Scottish Cup-winning boss isn't going in to make up the numbers in Europe. He wants Aberdeen to make their mark.

He said: “We have strong ambitions here.