Aberdeen

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "I think some parts of the game were good in the first half. Still, on the break, in our transitions, we're not clinical enough. We have to do more work during training sessions to be better when we have the opportunity to win the ball and transition, and how we arrive to the last third.

"[Celtic] defended transitions really well, and I think in the last 20 minutes of the game, we don't have this extra power to create an opportunity to get back to the game. I think the game was still alive when it was 1-0. When the score was 2-0, we needed to risk a little bit more.

"We created some opportunities against Hearts. Today, not so many.

"I still think it's early, but of course we expected more from ourselves, and I am the manager, so I'm responsible.

"We have to do better and keep improving the team and the relationships. I think many times when we have control of the ball, we end up with our goalkeeper, and instead of breaking lines and arriving to their box, we end up losing the ball and then it's a second-ball situation. We have to be more true to what we want to do, but that's my job, to help the players here and find that direction."

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin reported no fresh injury concerns, but summer signing Emmanuel Gyamfi and Latvian defender Kristers Tobers remain sidelined.

Celtic winger Jota is a long-term absentee but loan signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who joined from Manchester City through the week, could be in the squad.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin insists their Scottish Cup final win over Celtic will have no impact on Sunday's Premiership encounter between the sides at Pittodrie.

The teams meet for the first time since the Dons pulled off an upset in their penalty shootout victory over the Hoops at Hampden in May.

"It's a new game, a new season, and we believe in the things we have practiced on and tried to evolve in our team.

"They have some new players also but it is a clear identity of what they want to do. We have to be ready but also do our things a little bit better than the last game and I hope keep progressing on during the season.

Aberdeen are looking to bounce back after getting their campaign off to a disappointing start with a 2-0 defeat at Hearts in their season opener last Monday.

However, they don't have history on their side - you have to go back to February 2016 to find the last time they defeated Celtic at Pittodrie.

"We know how Celtic play and we want to grow in our parts, it is going to be a quite high intensity game," he said.

"This league is really competitive so every game you have to arrive to a certain level of energy and effort to deserve a victory.

"We know Celtic's qualities and their capacity, so we have to be at our best to get the result we want."

Meanwhile, Aberdeen have been sanctioned by the SPFL over the use of pyrotechnics by some of their fans in the Merkland Stand before their last Premiership encounter with Celtic at Pittodrie in May.

Any such repeat of what the football authorities have described as 'unacceptable conduct' will see the Dons have to close 200 seats.

Asked what his message to the fans was, Thelin replied: "We try to do it together so everybody is allowed to go to the games in the future.

"Follow these rules so everybody can come to every game because we need them there, we need all the supporters be allowed to be at Pittodrie."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin believes striker Kusini Yengi "will grow" after a frustrating debut.

The 26-year-old Australian, who arrived from Portsmouth earlier in the summer, spurned a couple of golden chances during Aberdeen's season-opening 2-0 defeat at Hearts on Monday night.

Yengi has subsequently come in for criticism, but Thelin said: "I think he will grow, he was there in the situations, that is the first [thing], you have to arrive at the chances and then during the time he is getting sharper.

"But I think it is difficult to say like we missed chances, also we got two goals against us, and we have to start there to be better and the way we defend and how we protect our own goal."

Yengi is one of seven summer signings to arrive at Pittodrie so far, with the club working to bring in more new faces as they face up to both domestic and continental commitments this campaign.

Speaking before Sunday's Premiership visit of Celtic, Thelin was asked if he is frustrated at how long his rebuild is taking.

"No," he responded.

"Everybody is so aligned with what we want to do. It has to be the right player, not just a player, and we know what we are trying to do. We have to find the profile and how we build the squad.

"If you work in this business, it is not frustration. You know it is a difficult market, everybody is trying to do the best we can do and we are trying to nail the things we want to happen. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't, then you move on and you always have an optimistic mindset and try to do the best you can do.

"I think in the window, you can't control exactly what happens, but we have a lot of people who are working hard to always try to improve the squad."

It will be some time before the Red Army get the chance to see another one of their summer signings, Emmanuel Gyamfi, however.

The 21-year-old German left-back joined on a four-year deal from Schalke in June, but a leg injury is set to keep him out until the middle of next month.

"Now we have to support the player to come back," said Thelin.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premiership visit of Celtic.

Here are the key lines from the Dons boss:

• The Scottish Cup final win over Celtic last term will have no bearing on Sunday's encounter: "It is a new game, a new season."

• On the challenge the champions will pose, Aberdeen "know Celtic's qualities" and will need to be at their best to win what will be a "high intensity game".

• The Dons have "things we need to improve" after losing their season opener at Hearts last weekend.

• On whether Thelin is frustrated with efforts to add more signings: "It has to be the right player, not just a player. It has to be the right profile."

• The manager adds "we have a lot of people working hard" in attempting to strengthen the squad.

• After new arrival Kusini Yengi came in for criticism following his performance at Tynecastle, Thelin believes the striker "will improve" and points out that he put himself in good positions to score.

• Both Kristers Tobers and new left-back Emmanuel Gyamfi will be out until the middle of September through injury.

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Aberdeen are one step closer to finding out their Europa League play-off opponent as FCSB came from behind to edge past Drita in the third qualifying round.

The Dons will face the winner of FCSB of Romania against Kosovo's Drita and, at one point on Thursday night it was the underdogs who were in control of the tie as Drita raced to a 2-0 lead.

However, a 94th minute penalty sealed a 3-2 first leg win for the 1986 European Cup winners.

You probably shouldn't book those flights to Romania just yet though, with the tie very much alive for the second leg next week.

• Aberdeen are winless in regulation time in their past 31 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D7 L24) since a 1-0 victory at Celtic Park in their final league game of the 2017-18 season. The Dons did, however, win a penalty shootout against the Parkhead side in their most recent clash after a 1-1 draw in last season's Scottish Cup final.

• Celtic are unbeaten in 17 away league games at Aberdeen (W14 D3) since losing 2-1 in February 2016 under Ronny Deila.

• After their 2-0 defeat to Hearts on matchday one, Aberdeen could lose both of their first two games of a league season for the first time since 2003-04 under Steve Paterson – on that occasion, the first such defeat was to Hearts, and the second was at home to defending champions Rangers.

• Celtic have won their opening away game in each of the past three Scottish Premiership seasons, including a 3-1 victory at Aberdeen in 2023-24. Under Brendan Rodgers, Celtic have won four of five such matches (L1).

• Since the start of last season Celtic have scored more goals in the final five minutes of Scottish Premiership matches than any other team (16), with four of those earning the team a draw (two) or a win (two), including Luke McCowan's winning strike last weekend.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has confirmed that contract talks are ongoing with Shayden Morris, who has been the subject of several failed bids from Luton Town, and several others from the Dons' Scottish Cup-winning squad. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

It was perhaps one of the most predictable outcomes of the season as Aberdeen lost 2-0 to Hearts in their league opener at Tynecastle.

The away team hasn't won this fixture for almost eight years.

However, just when Dons fans had hoped to watch a side kick off 2025-26 with the confidence of trophy winners, what transpired was a fairly timid, routine defeat down Gorgie Road.

They haven't emerged victorious there since 2017 and that didn't look like changing at any point on Monday evening, despite a degree of profligacy.

The goals they lost had shades of the ones they have been conceding since November. They have now won just five of their last 28 league matches with champions Celtic up next.

The jury is out on Kusuni Yengi, the club's new number nine. The big Australian didn't score a single goal last season, but that didn't stop the Dons making him one of their top targets in the summer window.

He will have spent the last couple of days re-living his huge second-half miss that would have made it 1-1.

Aberdeen have to make more signings in that area before the end of August with Yengi's arrival contrasted with the departures of forward trio Pape Gueye, Oday Dabbagh and Kevin Nisbet.

It can't be underestimated the extent to which Hearts are further on in their season preparations thanks to their participation in the League Cup groups, something the Dons themselves spectacularly benefited from last year.

Aberdeen have, rightly, spent the summer celebrating that famous Scottish Cup lift. But the squad looks weaker than the one that walked out at Hampden that day.

With the demands of European football to come, there is a lot to do to make sure that they build on that success and be competitive on all fronts, something chairman Dave Cormack insisted would happen.

One big plus was the performance of another new arrival from down under, Nicolas Milanovic. He was, by far, Aberdeen's top performer in Edinburgh on what was a fairly dispiriting night for Jimmy Thelin.

The Europa League draw has handed Aberdeen a winnable tie against Romanians FCSB or Drita from Kosovo - it's as kind as it could have been.

But there appears a lot of work to be done between now and then if they are to take advantage and challenge domestically.

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Nicolas Milanovic hopes a strong season with Aberdeen can help him force his way into the Australia team for next year's World Cup.

The 23-year-old winger made his competitive Dons debut in Monday's 2-0 league defeat at Hearts after joining from A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers earlier this summer.

Milanovic's display was one of the few positives for Aberdeen at Tynecastle, and he is intent on continuing to flourish in Jimmy Thelin's side with a view to being part of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

"I've yet to make my first cap for Australia," he said. "I've been around it, but just haven't made that cap yet. So that's a personal goal of mine, to thrive this year and hopefully it will get me there.

"And the World Cup, obviously, is a big, big ambition of mine. I think everyone dreams of being in the World Cup, so hopefully club success brings that.

"I just want to do well here and do as much as I can for the team, and hopefully that will get me there."

Milanovic is relishing Aberdeen's upcoming European adventure after they learned on Monday they will face Romanian side FCSB or Kosovan outfit Drita in their Europa League play-off later this month.

"A kid from Australia, I didn't really expect two years ago to be playing in a Europa League play-off, so I'm excited," he said. "That's another thing, a personal achievement I've got coming my way.

"I think the team's going to be more than ready for that draw. I don't know if it's a favourable or unfavourable draw, but we'll just go in there wanting to win."

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's Europa League play-off draw.

Here's what some of you said:

Kiera: After finding out a bit more about our potential opponents, Drita seems like the opponent we should prefer to face. FCSB seems like the stronger side of the two. Nonetheless with the past of Aberdeen's European runs anything can happen!

Gary: Probably the best draw we could have got. Winning home leg will be crucial, but still think defence is vulnerable. Would rather concentrate our efforts on a good domestic campaign.

Bailey: Very good, probably the best outcome. We have just got to play well and hope that defence sorts itself out.

Eric: The game against SB probably will come too early for us. We have no midfield structure at the minute and this will be our downfall. We need two very strong, very active midfield players and these don't seem to be on the radar at the moment. I really fear for the Dons at the start of the season.

Ally: Excited to get the draw confirmed. Slight concerns remain over our attacking options, but, I don't think we have anything to fear going into the tie, whoever it is! An away day to Bucharest is the likeliest outcome. Bring it on!

Eilidh: A very favourable draw. Personally I think we would get on better in the Conference League but obviously qualifying for the Europa League would be massive with the chance to play some huge teams.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

The first game of the season is not quite the time to hit the panic button, but the opening day defeat to Hearts felt entirely predictable.

Could it have been prevented?

That's 24 games without victory for the away team in this fixture so history would have suggested not, however I do think we could have helped ourselves a bit better.

Questions around pre season preparations are expected but the lack of firepower has been a real concern for the support and last night again highlighted the need, if not urgency, to get another striker in at least!

We reverted to type as well and conceded soft goals. Why when we found a formula on 24 May that worked was that so quickly abandoned?

A big week ahead, hopefully some signings to bolster the mood. Least it's only Celtic at home this week eh?

Glen can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 2-0 defeat against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Roddy: We looked unprepared and well off the pace. Definitely need a recognised striker. I would love to see Fletcher Boyd given more game time. I thought Adil Aouchiche and Nicolas Milanovic looked decent prospects.

Ian: Still playing the same way, too slow, all over the park passing, still don't see any improvement on last season, very disappointing.

Alan: I fear that we have signed the wrong type of players to confront the physical and combative style of play in the Premiership. Against Hearts, Kusini Yengi was a point in case! Totally bullied and out-fought.

Robbie: Woeful first half from the Dons, the lack of games clearly showed. We need to get a goal scoring number nine in as soon as possible or it could be a long season.

James: Where are the goals coming from? Nobody in the front line could claim to be a goal scorer. Hearts were prepared to battle and took no prisoners and it worked. Aberdeen played some good football but you need to score to get results. It could be a long season.

Niall: The concerns about the lack of investment in a proven striker pre-season were laid bare. Completely toothless, often disjointed and quite chaotic at the back. It was obvious which side was better prepared for the new league season. The alarm bells are ringing already with the important Europa League qualifier, League Cup and more difficult league games coming thick and fast.

Hearts started their Scottish Premiership campaign with a comfortable win over a wasteful Aberdeen side at Tynecastle.

Aberdeen fans, what did you make of your side's performance?

Give us your thoughts here.

Read the full match report here.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "In the first half we were disappointed with our performance because they won the battle with second balls.

"We had to do better. In the second half there were less mistakes and we created chances, but 50-50 duels we have to do better in the future.

"We knew what we were going to face today. It's going to be a different type of game against Celtic."

Aberdeen have been drawn against FCSB of Bucharest or Kosovan side Drita in the Europa League play-off round.

The first leg will be played at Pittodrie on August 21, with the return match a week later.

Dons fans, what do you make of your potential opponents? How confident are you?

Have your say on the draw

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Hearts midfielder Beni Baningime is out with a knee injury but Christian Borchgrevink and Calem Nieuwenhof both hope to be available after their recent hamstring issues.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin expects to have everyone available apart from injured defenders Emmanuel Gyamfi and Kristers Tobers.

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Graeme Shinnie is urging Aberdeen to be more consistent this season as they prepare to open their Premiership campaign away to Hearts on Monday night.

After an impressive start to the 2024/25 campaign, in which they won nine of their first 10 league games, Jimmy Thelin's side had a difficult spell.

The north east club would go on to win the Scottish Cup, defeating Celtic at Hampden, but captain Shinnie is looking for more than silverware this season.

"The big thing for us this season, away from trophies and silverware, is consistency," the midfielder told RedTV, external.

"Last season we lacked consistency, we were at opposite ends of the scale - we were either very, very good or very, very bad.

"We started off like a house on fire then we went on a horrendous run of not winning in about 14 games. We managed to get back on track, had some great had after that and we put ourselves in a position to fight then lost the last four games.

"It was so up and down, then we go on to win the cup. The inconsistency was so bad for us last season.

"We want to change that, we want to be more consistent and if we can do that it will be a good season."

We asked for your views on how Aberdeen are shaping up for the new season, which gets under way at Tynecastle on Monday.

Here's what some of you said:

Graham: It's a bizarre start to the season. Selling one of our better strikers who actually scores goals, and going after an unproven young Serbian striker. It would make sense to get the young striker if we had an established proven goalscorer that he could learn from. I fear for the worst against Hearts on Monday as they seem to be banging in goals right now. Hopefully we'll be decent, but we definitely need a proven goalscorer at Pittodrie as soon as possible. Fingers crossed.

Cameron: It scares me the thought of where are the goals coming from. I just can't see the season ahead being any different plus they concede for fun. Bottom six.

Malky: The league is going to be extremely strong this season. I don't think we are well equipped at all, and I know that's going to raise some eyebrows. Having seen the Ipswich game, the amount of times we were so, so easy to play through remains a complete concern to me, they were very similar to our cheap goals conceded last season. I fear we lack cutting edge up front. Emmanuel Gyamfi injured and Graeme Shinnie as the only left-back fills me with utter despair as well. I'm going to predict we will struggle this season.

Justin: I still believe Aberdeen need more depth in the squad but no doubt a lot will be done in the final moments of the window, but after winning the Scottish Cup how can you be anything but optimistic? Let's go.

Liam: It's still incredibly worrying that we haven't brought in an established striker by this point, while letting Pape Gueye leave. Kusini Yengi hasn't done anything to ease our worries during pre-season. We need to go and spend money to bring Kevin Nisbet back.