Derek McInnes reckons Aberdeen paid the price for break

DEREK McINNES reckons the only way for Scottish clubs to hit the ground running in Europa League qualifying would be to ditch their summer holidays.

McInnes’ Aberdeen paid the penalty for their lack of match fitness when Bosnian cracks Siroki Brijeg nabbed a priceless away goal in their first-leg qualifier at Pittodrie.

Like Rangers and St Johnstone before them, a tricky foreign clash now stands between the Dons and progression.

But while McInnes believes his side can succeed where our other representatives failed, he says the only way Scottish teams could ensure a better showing, would be to keep training through the summer.

“I understand why people look at us in the context of Scottish football as a whole,” said McInnes.

“But just because other clubs didn’t get through it doesn’t mean we should have to take responsibility for that.

“We put pressure on ourselves because of the size of the club we are and what we want to achieve in the competition.

“It’s a tough call for me because we gave the players three-and-a-half weeks off. But the only real way you can be properly ready for this competition is if you don’t stop at all.

“If you don’t have a break and train through, you’d be ready – but that’s it.

“We have different players at different levels – the lads who have come up from England have had seven weeks off – so it’s difficult to expect them to be fired up and ready.

“We have a few of the squad at all different stages, that’s the reality of being in this competition.

“It’s very hard to manage your squad, get everyone in condition and be ready to face quality opposition.

“It’s a difficult call to make as a manager because you can see the players are flat out at the end of the season. But you can’t send them away for a long break to recharge.

“Could you just train right through? I don’t think you could, it would be far too much.

“What we have asked them to do is stop training for two weeks, just do little bits that we give them to prepare them for coming back, and then get back into it again.”

Europa League: Derek McInnes remains confident Aberdeen can progress despite draw

McInnes revealed his players were all ahead of where they were expected to be – fitness-wise – when tested in pre-season training.

In spite of the result, Thursday’s game will have boosted their sharpness even further.

Now the Dons boss wants to see the kind of improvement they have shown in previous years between first and second-leg games – and a result to match.

“We want to get to the group stages – that would feel like winning it,” said McInnes.

“Financially and from a prestige point of view, it’s where we would like to be.

“We haven’t gone into it thinking that it’s just setting us up for the league season. We take a pride in what we’re trying to do in Europe.

“I believe we can get through, and we’re more than capable of scoring over there.

“I agree with the Brijeg manager. The game is still in the balance for both teams, and it’s all to play for over there.

“It’s clear they are a good side. It’s going to be very difficult – but that will be the case for both sides.

“But one thing we have noticed in the past is that you can expect significant improvement from the first game to the second game.

“So I expect us to be better, as we were against Groningen, Rijeka and Ventspils in the past.”