Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before his side’s Premiership game with Dundee United this weekend.
Here are the key lines:
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He has heard about the history between Aberdeen and United, and believes the late kick-off will add to the atmosphere at Pittodrie, adding “the more spirit around the games the better”.
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The Swede spoke of the “connection” between the players and supporters and the importance of feeling “we’re doing something together”.
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Thelin insists he does not think about the run Aberdeen are on since his arrival – now 12 wins and 13 games unbeaten.
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Reflected on how difficult it was to come back from 2-0 against Celtic to earn a point, and how it epitomised the Dons’ “team spirit”.
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He has been “happy” with how Duk has behaved since returning to the club from his unauthorised absence in the summer, adding he has been “humble” and shown “great spirit on the pitch”.
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On Jamie McGrath’s form, Thelin says: “He has some skills. It was an amazing pass [to assist Ester Sokler’s goal at Celtic Park[. He does some things on the training ground sometimes that make you go, ‘Ooh, how did you do that?’
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He says McGrath also brings “so much to the team” in a defensive sense, adding: “In the last part of the game [at Celtic] he ran into our box to make a slide tackle to block a shot. After 85 minutes he was still running and competing. It was great to see.”