Glass anticipating red-hot atmosphere as Aberdeen face Rangers

Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass says he’s looking forward to what he thinks will be a fiercely competitive match against Rangers and believes the return of fans will make for a special atmosphere.

Top flight clubs are back in action after shifting the winter break to avoid the worst impact of the restriction on crowd sizes with the Pittodrie clash one of the fixtures that were postponed.

With the stadium likely to be packed for the game against the Premiership leaders, Glass thinks that the fixture will be back to its best in terms of atmosphere.

“Generally it gets a little bit frantic,” he said. “You will see two teams that are desperate to win, two teams that are desperate not to lose.

“The mindset of both camps is to go in and win this game, which always makes for an attractive fixture. The atmosphere will be good, the occasion will be good.

“It is the first time back in the stadium for a long time and certainly in these numbers as well. It is an occasion we are all looking forward to. I am hoping the game lives up to it and hoping that we come out on the right side.”

The last time a full crowd saw the teams clash in the north east was in late 2019 and Glass is delighted that the run of closed door games has come to an end.

“It has been a long time since I have been at an Aberdeen-Rangers game and it has been a long time since there has been fans at one up here,” he said.

“There was a bit of a clamour for the game to be on at the end of last month with people hoping it was going to happen. I think everybody is delighted that it is going to happen with fans in the stadium now.

“Any time that Rangers come to Aberdeen it is a big game and it is one that we are looking forward to. They were on a decent run of form in December as well and it would have been a brilliant game at that time.

“Both groups will come in rested and well planned for the game. I am looking forward to what should be a good game against a good team.”

In addition to preparing his side for a busy run of fixtures, Glass is also looking at strengthening his squad in the transfer window. The Dons were rated as favourites to sign St Mirren’s Jamie McGrath after holding talks with the Irishman but it’s now being reported he is prioritising a move to England instead.

Glass said he wouldn’t talk about individual targets at other clubs but made pointed comment on his approach to recruitment.

“We want players that want to come and play for Aberdeen, see the profile that we can give them, see what the club offers, and see a game like tomorrow night and think you want to be a part of it.

“There’s a pressure to being an Aberdeen player that’s not for everybody, we’ll get the right people in that can help us.”