Jimmy Thelin tells Aberdeen’s critics to look at their achievements

Jimmy Thelin has told Aberdeen’s critics to “zoom out” and look at the bigger picture as his side prepare for a final-day showdown with Dundee United that will decide who finishes fourth in the Premiership.

The Dons have come under fire on the back of a three-game losing streak that cost them the chance of finishing ahead of Hibernian in the race for third.

But Thelin argued that, if they can avoid defeat away to United and secure fourth place, it will ensure his first campaign in charge of the Dons has been a progressive one overall given that they finished in the bottom six last term.

“Sometimes when you’re in some moments when it’s not going exactly how you want, you have to zoom out a little bit and see what’s happened this season,” said the manager. “We are in the top six again, our goal was Europe, we have achieved that goal.

“When you are in that top six, you try to get the highest position you can reach, and it was the third spot. Now it’s impossible, now we have to try to achieve the fourth position. But what the players have pushed themselves through this season, from a really difficult season last season, they arrive to a (Scottish Cup) final, a (League Cup) semi-final, and now have the chance to arrive fourth in the league.

“So you have to zoom out and look at what actually has happened and how they have done it through a lot of transfers in and out, some injuries, and still we are there to give us a chance to arrive fourth.

“That, I think, is overall a good performance. Sometimes you just need to lift the eye a little bit and see where we are. It’s the first year of a three-year project, and we try to progress our work all the time to be better in the future.”

Fourth place carries a place in the second qualifying round of the Europa League, while fifth will mean starting in the second qualifying round, although the Dons still have the chance to secure European group-stage football if they can defeat Celtic in next weekend’s Scottish Cup final.

“We want the fourth position, and it’s going to be a really interesting game tomorrow and a really exciting game with a lot to play for,” said Thelin.

“We are fighting about the same position in the last game of the league year.

“Every player knows that it’s important tomorrow, and they know it’s a final in one week, and the ambition is high. They look forward to the game tomorrow and then for the final.”