Aberdeen

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Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media in advance of Sunday's visit to Dens Park to face Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• First team coach Peter Leven has been granted permission to speak to St Johnstone about their vacant managerial position.

• Thelin wants him to stay at Aberdeen, but is happy that he is getting recognition for his good work from other clubs.

• The decision is now up to Leven.

• Thelin recognises that Dundee have a good coach in Tony Docherty. He expects a tough challenge and insists Aberdeen must be very competitive for 90 minutes.

• The Swede believes that Docherty's side are "unified" and have quality and a clear identity. They are also quite direct and strong in second balls.

• He added that competition for places is very high with players pushing each other in training every day. The league season doesn't finish until May so he wants all members of the squad to contribute.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin's "distinct style of play" is what fans have been craving, says The Athletic's Jordan Campbell.

The Swede has won all of his first 11 matches in charge at Pittodrie and his side are level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

"Some of the fallacies sometimes about Scottish football fans is that there's such a lack of patience, that they won't buy into a long-term plan," Campbell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"If we can see the idea and we can get behind it, then the fans will come with them.

"I think with Aberdeen, you've seen that already. They look like a really well coached team.

"I always think that results can go against you, but as long as you've got the performances and some consistency there, then the fans will get behind you.

"You're seeing Aberdeen with this high energy pressing and it's really causing teams a lot of problems.

"Aberdeen don't need to be able to beat Rangers and Celtic, they just need to be able to beat the best of the rest.

"That's what they're doing just now."

• Dundee avoided defeat in all three of their league meetings with Aberdeen last season (W1 D2), picking up five points – as many as they had in their previous 17 such games against the Dons beforehand (W1 D2 L14).

• Aberdeen have lost two of their last three league visits to Dundee (D1), this after winning six such trips in a row beforehand.

• Dundee haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 Scottish Premiership matches (23 goals conceded in this run), the longest ongoing streak of any side in the division.

• Aberdeen have won all five of their league games this season and could become the first non-Old Firm club to win their opening six matches of a Scottish Premiership campaign since Aberdeen themselves in 2015-16 (first eight).

• Aberdeen’s Pape Habib Gueye is the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season with five goals – the most by a player in their first four starts in the competition since Marc McNulty in February-March 2019 (also five).

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin believes every player in his squad will be called upon this season. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

When Aberdeen defeated Clyde in the Scottish Cup on the 19 January, it was their 11th victory of the season. This term, that feat has been achieved before September’s out.

That in itself is a stunning return and the fact they’ve all been strung together is all the more remarkable.

It is a feat that has only been achieved once before in Dons history, when Eddie Turnbull led the club to 15 on the bounce 54 years ago. It was something that eluded even Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering side.

The last time they opened a league season with five successive wins was in 2015 -when they were victorious in their first eight - in what looked like a title challenge in the making, only for an inexplicable collapse during the autumn denting Derek McInnes’ hopes of toppling Ronny Deila’s unconvincing Celtic side.

Are things about to get trickier? Having watched a lot of Aberdeen this season, despite a relatively kind fixture list to kick the campaign off, they look like a side that knows exactly what it’s doing with a trip to face Dundee up next in front of an away support that will be in excess of 4,000.

If Jimmy Thelin emerges from Dens Park victorious yet again, he will equal the Scottish record of 12 successive victories set by Martin O'Neill in 2000 when he went on to win a treble in his maiden season at Celtic Park.

After that, and ahead of the October international break, will be a visit from managerless Hearts who haven’t won at Pittodrie since 2016.

It was interesting to read that striker Kevin Nisbet feels the team hasn’t yet got to top gear. Certainly by the end of next month, the Dons will be hoping to have quietened down some sceptics in the media who have suggested they have yet to be truly tested.

Meanwhile, the League Cup win over Spartans on Saturday means they will return to Hampden to face tournament favourites Celtic in the semis, a team they haven’t beaten at the national stadium since 1992 when Eoin Jess took them through to the final of the same competition they will clash in.

There will be a sense of revenge in the air for some of the Aberdeen squad after last season’s Scottish Cup last-four thriller, which saw Brendan Rodgers’ side eventually prevail on penalties - an outcome that made it nine Hampden meetings without success over Celtic for Aberdeen.

Thelin will look at the next five league games ahead of that semi-final and feel he will know exactly what his side are made of by the end of them, with a trip to Celtic Park and Pittodrie battles with rivals Dundee United and Rangers before October’s over.

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"I hope he does well, but not too well. I don't like seeing Aberdeen too high up the table."

Former Rangers defender Joachim Bjorklund is "proud" of his compatriot, Jimmy Thelin, for the start he's made to his Aberdeen career and hopes he can set a template for future Swedish managers.

Thelin has 11 wins from 11 games, and is eyeing up Martin O'Neill's Scottish record of 12 successive victories in 2000.

Bjorklund, who is assistant manager at IFK Goteborg, told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast Thelin has "developed a lot" as a manager.

"He did a really really good job at Elfsborg where he was for six or seasons before he left for Aberdeen," Bjorklund said. "Especially the last couple of years, they were one game away from winning the league. They met Malmo in the last game of last season and probably should have won it but squandered it away probably more the second last game so he nearly won the league here.

"Then he moves to Aberdeen in the summer and as you said, he's had great success and it's good for Swedish coaches because there's not too many out there, so if he's doing well, it might help all the other ones who wants to try a bit of international football as well.

"We are proud of him, and hope he's doing well, just not too well, because I don't like to see Aberdeen too high up the table, just for the sake of old rivalries!

"He's a good man. He did really, really well in Elfsborg, and I think he'll continue to have success in Aberdeen."

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds here

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has confirmed he wants to secure right-back Nicky Devlin on a new contract, with the 30-year-old's current deal expiring at the end of the season. (Press & Journal), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Gary Scott
Fan writer

Another week, another win for Jimmy Thelin as he guided his Aberdeen side to an 11th straight win and a League Cup semi-final with a thoroughly professional 4-0 win over The Spartans on Saturday.

While the Dons were heavy favourites to progress to Hampden in their first ever meeting with the Ainslie Park side, the manner of the victory was hugely pleasing for the Pittodrie faithful.

A continued drive and willingness from the men in red to keep attacking their League 2 opponents when the game was already over as a contest was marked in its change of style compared to recent seasons.

Couple this with a determination to work hard to recover possession even when 4-0 up was also significant in terms of demonstrating the complete mindset shift that Thelin has been enable to implement within his squad.

A key figure in Saturday's win was Croatian midfielder Ante Palaversa. Making only his second start for the club since his summer arrival, Palaversa's performance was exemplary and it showed why Manchester City paid north of 7m euros for the player back in 2019.

Coupled with the return of Leighton Clarkson from injury, Thelin now has quite a dilemma on his hands when it comes to the midfield, with Graeme Shinnie, Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Palaversa and Clarkson all vying for three central spots, and that’s before the return of Dante Polvara is factored in.

This winning run is the second best in club history, only bettered by 15 straight wins during the 1970-71 season.

Aberdeen last tasted defeat at Dens Park back in March and it's a trip to Dundee that awaits on Saturday in what is, arguably, the stiffest test Thelin's side have faced this season to date.

Indeed, the month of October may act as a bellwether for how Aberdeen's season will ultimately end up.

Saturday's trip to Dens and a first visit of the season to Celtic Park sandwich a home game with floundering Hearts, before Dundee United and Rangers visit Pittodrie prior to the aforementioned trip to Hampden to take on Celtic.

If Aberdeen can stick another 10-12 points on the board in that run then the quiet optimism that is bubbling away may explode exponentially.

Boss Jimmy Thelin has labelled striker Ester Sokler one of Aberdeen's "best attacking defenders" because of his tireless pressing. (Daily Record)

Thelin has urged defender Jack Mackenzie to keep taking "big steps" in his career as talks continue on a new Aberdeen contract. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.

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The dates and kick-off times for the two Scottish League Cup semi-finals have been confirmed.

Celtic take on Aberdeen on Saturday, 2 November (17:30), while Rangers face Motherwell on Sunday, 3 November (15:00), with both matches taking place at Hampden.

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Celtic will face Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.

Holders Rangers take on Motherwell in the other tie.

The games will take place on the weekend of 2-3 November.

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 4-0 win against The Spartans that sent the Dons into the League Cup semis.

Here's what some of you said:

Stuart: Aberdeen approached the game giving The Spartans every respect they deserved, however, it was a job well done now on to Hampden, when I'm expecting the draw to pair us with Celtic.

Neil: A solid and intense team performance which is brilliant to see. For me the engine in the first half came through Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Pape Gueye's hunger in particular but it's so pleasing to see the team working incredibly hard together to break down The Spartans, despite them being stubborn at first.

Karen: A wonderfully effervescent performance from the Dons. Yes, it was lower-league opposition, but every player looked hungry and confident. Right from the first minute, The Spartans never stood a chance and on any occasion when we lost the ball, we won it back again so quickly by swarming all over the opposition.

Andy: It isn't just an 11-match winning run, it's a 21-match unbeaten run in regulation time.

Richie: Quality possession throughout from Aberdeen, constantly probing in the opposition half to create scoring opportunities. Could have been more than four. Defensively tight, managed every situation well. The Spartans struggled to keep possession as Aberdeen put in the effort to quickly close down, force errors, make tackles and re-gain possession. Good job.

Fred: Really good game and great to see four players finding the net. Aberdeen played fast and furious dominating the tie. We must have a great chance of making the final. The team spirit is fantastic but must praise The Spartans who never gave up.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "Spartans did well, they defended really well. We tried to find ways to find a goal, it's so important in these kind of games. I think how we mixed our attacks - sometimes behind and sometimes between - and finally we get that goal, and another one before half-time.

"The third goal was important. You never know in these games if they get an opportunity in transition or from a corner. I'm really happy with that.

"The last 10 minutes, we had a 4-0 lead, and still everyone is sprinting and helping each other to defend, to keep pushing instead of just playing off the game. We need to keep that hunger on the pitch.

"[The semi-final] is going to be nice. We'll see the draw tomorrow, but for now we focus on the league."

Aberdeen's perfect start to the season continued as Jimmy Thelin's side swept away League 2 Spartans to book a place at Hampden in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.

On a run of 10 straight wins, Aberdeen were heavy favourites and played to form as their intensity from the first whistle proved too much for their part-time opponents.

Pape Habib Gueye pounced on a loose ball in the box to turn in his sixth goal of the season and get Aberdeen going on 14 minutes.

A host of chances followed before Kevin Nisbet tapped in Jack MacKenzie's excellent cross just before half-time.

The tie was effectively over 45 seconds after the restart when Slobodan Rubezic picked out Leighton Clarkson, who nodded in Aberdeen's third goal, before Ester Sokler squeezed in a fourth.

Were you at Pittodrieor following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here, external.

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Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

A comfortable home victory against a League 2 side is not the most impressive of Jimmy Thelin's 11 wins in a row.

However, there is enough evidence from recent struggles against lower-league opponents to illustrate Aberdeen's immense improvement under the Swede.

Non-league Darvel defeated Jim Goodwin's Aberdeen in January 2023 and last season Neil Warnock's Dons struggled past League 2 Bonnyrigg Rose.

But here there was not a moment when the result was in question such was Aberdeen's slickness with the ball and intensity without it.

That is exactly what Thelin has brought to Pittodrie, as well as vast improvement in individual players like Pape Habib Gueye, who has been transformed after a poor first season at the club.

Of course there are much tougher tests to come, but Aberdeen have the look of a team who mean business this season.

Beaten finalists in this competition last term, they will be a dangerous side to face in the last four.

Jimmy Thelin makes just one change following Aberdeen's 2-1 Premiership victory over Motherwell last weekend.

Leighton Clarkson makes his first start since returning from a shoulder injury sustained in the League Cup group stage versus Dumbarton

Finland winger Topi Keskinen drops to the bench, while Graeme Shinnie returns from illness to take up a spot in the dugout.

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Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, MacKenzie, Palaversa, Ketlne Nilsen, Clarkson, Gueye, McGrath, Nisbet.

Substitutes: Doohan, Shinnie, McGarry, Besuijen, Sokler, Morris, Milne, MacDonald, Keskinen.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Ante Palaversa believes he can "do really good stuff" with Aberdeen as he aims to rebuild a career that took him to Manchester City as a youth.

The 24-year-old arrived from French side Troyes on a 12 month deal, with the Dons having the option to extend the agreement by a further two years.

The Croatian midfielder has made just one start in Aberdeen's unbeaten opening and craves more minutes on the pitch to show what he can do.

"I appreciate Aberdeen, they offered one year to prove myself because I think I can do really good stuff," he said.

"In these last two years I was not getting too much time to play so right now I am just focused on myself. I don’t think of anything else, so just training and games."

Aberdeen aim to take their winning run to 11 games at home to Spartans in the Premier Sports Cup and Palaversa has been impressed.

"It is amazing the team spirit," he said. "If you don’t have team spirit I think we don’t win every game, so we just keep pushing that.

"We have to stay on the ground at first and don’t be like ‘oh we are something’ just keep doing our thing and keep the team spirit in the dressing room."

Five years ago, Palaversa joined Manchester City for a fee of around £7m.

Despite failing to make a first-team breakthrough at City, he harbours ambitions of making it to the highest level.

"That time I was 18, 19, to me it was 'a big club is coming for me' when I was signing in my head was always 'I want to go to that place' and maybe in four years, five years, ten years I want to play there, so I still keep that dream in my head.

"In Belgium, Spain, France, I took a lot of experience so right now in my position, I think I am in a good place to be."

Ante Palaversa, who joined Aberdeen from Troyes, has targeted a return to Manchester City despite the 24-year-old playmaker having failed to break through with the Premier League side previously. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Jimmy Thelin says the pressure is a positive as Aberdeen look to avoid a huge shock and reach the League Cup semis for the third season running.

The Dons have won 10 out of 10 games in all competitions this season and are overwhelming favourites to see off fourth-tier Spartans at Pittodrie on Saturday night.

"That is why we need to be strong in our identity," said manager Thelin.

"It is always some weight of pressure but you have to embrace it and see it is a positive that people believe in you and push you. I think that is why you have to find a good level inside games.

"It is a really important game to win at home. It is a cup game, they have a good coach, he is the longest serving coach at one club now.

"They have some experienced ex-Premiership players, they beat Ross County, everybody knows the cup is the cup and we need to be really focused on this one and prepare ourselves and go with all we have to get through to the next round."

With Spartans having claimed the scalp of Ross County in the last round, Thelin will be well aware what could happen if his team aren't bang at it.

"That is why it is so exciting for all the cups in the world that different teams from different levels can play against each other," he added.

"So I think it is important to respect that and always have that in mind in the competition. It is only one game and football is football so we have to be ready."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's League Cup quarter-final against League 2 Spartans.

Here are the key points:

• He says it is a "really important game" and the Dons have to embrace the pressure of being big favourites.

• Thelin praised Spartans and their "really good coach" Dougie Samuel, adding it is impressive he has been in charge for 12 years.

• On whether Spartans' win over Ross County should serve as a warning, Thelin says: "It is only one game and football is football so we have to be ready."

• Thelin hailed "impressive" Jack MacKenzie who recently made his 100th appearance for Aberdeen.

• Duk has "been doing really well" in training and "adapting quickly" but this weekend's game comes too soon for him.

• Graeme Shinnie returns from illness and long-term absentee Dante Polvara remains out.

It would be one of the biggest shocks in League Cup history if Aberdeen were not to extend their 10-game winning run since Jimmy Thelin took charge at the start of the season.

People will point to the Dons' dismal Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Darvel - a side from Scotland sixth tier - in early 2023.

And, yes, Spartans are two tiers higher and have already accounted for one Premiership side this season, as well as a Livingston team who were in the top division last season, to secure a first national cup quarter-final.

But this is a different Aberdeen, this time the minnows are having to travel to Pittodrie, and part-time Spartans have only won once in five outings since knocking out Ross County.

Peter Leven steadied the Dons ship in his second spell as caretaker last season after Neil Warnock's ill-fated short spell in charge, but Thelin has transformed their fortunes since.

It has fans dreaming of going one better than last year's 1-0 defeat by Rangers in the final and lifting the trophy for the first time since edging Inverness Caledonian Thistle on penalties in 2014.

The 46-year-old Swede has only so far notched one trophy success - leading Jonkopings Sodra to the second-tier title in his homeland before finishing runner-up in the top flight twice with Elfsborg.

While his rebuilt current side are only being kept off the top of the Premiership by Celtic on goal difference, Thelin has warned supporters not to get "carried away" by thoughts of winning the league title and will realise the cup is always the best chance for non-Old Firm clubs to win silverware.

Read all the League Cup quarter-final picks