THE FRENCH RESISTANCE

Aouchiche ready to go to war with countrymen as he targets upset and keeping Euro dream alive

- SCOTT BURNS AT DENS PARK

ADIL AOUCHICHE has a French fancy Aberdeen will smash Strasbourg to keep their European hopes alive.

The French side sit second top in the Conference League group stage on 10 points from four games and travel to Pittodrie on Thursday already well on their way to qualification for the last 16.

That is in stark contrast to the Reds, who sit 33rd of 36 teams on just two points and must win their last two games while hoping other results go their way.

Jimmy Thelin’s side go into this huge tie on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run and Parisian Aouchiche is now preparing to battle his fellow Frenchmen for a win against Strasbourg before facing Sparta Prague a week later.

The on-loan Sunderland midfielder said: "Of course they are more secure than us but we have the possibility to go through in this competition.

"It will be tough for us now because we need to win the next two games.

"We are still in the competition and I think we can reach these two wins.

"I told one guy who came from Sunderland to watch me, ‘It's going to be good for me to speak a little bit French with a few players, maybe before or after the game.’