Euro call-off idea met with 'garbage' - McInnes

Derek McInnes was back at Pittodrie to face his former club

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has criticised some of the "self interest" and "garbage" that greeted his suggestion that Sunday's game against Aberdeen could be postponed to help his side win their Conference League play-off against Copenhagen.

The Ayrshire side travelled to Pittodrie on Premiership duty as scheduled, having lost 2-0 in Thursday's first leg in Denmark.

McInnes admits that no official request for a call-off was made to the Scottish Professional Football League - and there was no approach to Aberdeen either.

"There was a discussion with the league, not an official approach, and it was pointless really," he told BBC Scotland. "It would have been rejected, so we didn't bother.

"I put it out there and it was interesting to see the amount of self interest that comes on the back of that. You see other European nations doing that, because it can generate so much money."

McInnes was disappointed by "some of the garbage that came on the back of it" but stressed that his former club was not approached because "it wasn't Aberdeen's issue".

"If any club asked me for it, I would be all in favour of it," he said.

McInnes reckons clubs from other nations have seen the benefit of postponements before European ties since "it is an advantage".

And he thinks previous opposition to the idea in Scotland often stemmed from the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers.

"That should not be a reason for not doing the right thing now," he said.

McInnes made just two changes for the visit to Pittodrie - both forced by injury or suspension.

"I feel as if the players are finding their feet and getting the strength in their legs," he explained.

"There's no doubt about it, it is something you wrestle with as a manager, but I've tried to be as strong as we possibly could and having watched the players in the last couple of days, we're good to go with it.

"Since Aberdeen last played, we have played two games and travelled. It's not ideal, but it's the cards your dealt with when you want to be playing in Europe."