Thelin: Top players can handle heavy workload

JIMMY THELIN has told his Aberdeen players to adapt to and shoulder the burden of European league phase football because that is the level they are aiming for every season.

- By Scott Burns

The Dons are gearing up for Thursday’s Europa League playoff first leg at Pittodrie against Romanian side FCSB having bypassed earlier qualifying rounds thanks to their Scottish Cup win last season.

Thelin’s team are guaranteed group stage football as they would drop into the Conference League if they lose over their two clashes with the club formerly known as Steaua Bucharest.

It will be only the third time in their history Aberdeen have made the group section of a European competition.

The demands of competing in Europe when they reached the Conference League two years ago massively impacted their domestic form and eventually cost former boss Barry Robson his job.

But Thelin insists top players and international stars cope with battling on two fronts 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 don’t 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.