MY BOYS WON'T GET CAUGHT IN SAFETY NET

JIMMY THELIN is not interested in the safety of the Conference League because the group stage of the Europa League is the only thing he wants Aberdeen to net.

- SCOTT BURNS

The Dons battled back from two down to get a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie last week against FCSB. It now comes down to a winner-takes-all clash in the National Arena in Bucharest on Thursday.

The Scottish Cup winners know that even if they lose they will drop into the Conference League but Dons boss Thelin said: "The Europa League is our target. People talk about a safety net but we don't think in those terms.

"We want to be in the Europa League and we are going to give everything to arrive there. As a manager, player and club you always want to play against the best teams and also believe in yourself, find ways to win games, be the best version of yourself." The Swede's previous playoff experience was in the Conference League in 2021.

After a 5-0 thumping away to Feyenoord, Elfsborg did win 3-1 at home but by then the damage had been done.