Jimmy Thelin knows it is exciting times at Aberdeen ahead of Rangers showdown

Jimmy Thelin acknowledged the excited anticipation around Aberdeen with Pittodrie set to be packed again for the visit of Rangers on Wednesday night.

The Dons go into the keenly-awaited William Hill Premiership fixture against the Light Blues on the back of a 15-game unbeaten start to the season under the Swede, which has included 14 wins.

A victory for the Dons, who trail leaders Celtic only on goal difference, would move them nine points clear of third-placed Rangers in the table.

Thelin, whose side scored a late winner against Dundee United at home at the weekend to spark wild scenes of celebration, said: “The excitement around the game with supporters and fans and all these kind of things – it’s just exciting.

“It’s not a negative thing but the players are focused on the performance, try to be as best as possible for Aberdeen and for Aberdeen Football Club and try to prepare for a strong team tomorrow again and believe in ourselves and what we do.

“That’s the focus. We have had sell-outs now in our recent games. Even in the beginning in the away games in the cup or also in the league, the fans are pushing us in a good way.

“Sometimes in the games when it’s tight, it’s still 0-0, whatever, they try to push the players over the line and try to find a winning goal at home but also in the away games try to hold for a good result.”

Aberdeen face a trip to Hampden Park on Saturday for a Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Celtic but Thelin insists the focus remains on the other side of the Old Firm.

He said: “No, I don’t think so (players will have one eye on Celtic). That’s why you have to be so focused on the things that happen today and not tomorrow because you can’t lose energy to think about what is in the future.

“It’s only the next game and the next training. I think that’s the only way to find so much energy as possible and quality as possible, if you focus only on the next game.”

Indeed, Thelin is not reading anything into league placings at this stage of the campaign.

He said: “It’s so early (in the season). We’re in October. I don’t think about the table in that way or how many points etc.

“For me the most important thing is our performance in this game and that’s the only thing that we focus on. As usual our preparation is a lot on our belief and what we focus on.

“Then we have an opponent of course, Rangers have an experienced coach in Philippe Clement and they are a good team. It’s going to be a tough game. Our focus is more on what we can do at Pittodrie.

“As usual we always respect the opponent, we are working through the week with how we’re going to prepare and try to find the weakness and the strength.

“For us it’s more like normal routines and I think we’re ready to hopefully make a good performance again.”