Aberdeen Faces Consequences After Heavy European Defeat
Willie Miller described Aberdeen's record 6-0 defeat to AEK Athens in the Conference League as "embarrassing."
As a club legend and former captain during one of their previous significant losses in Europe, Miller is well-positioned to comment on the situation.
Despite a recent improvement in their domestic performance, Aberdeen reverted to their previous struggles while playing in Greece. This crushing defeat marks their second consecutive loss in the competition, leaving them at the bottom of the 36-team table.
On Sportsound, Miller stated, "Jimmy Thelin must address this issue openly rather than glossing over it. He needs to communicate to the fans that this performance was not acceptable. He might argue that the team is learning at this level, but he must also acknowledge that their performance has fallen short."
What lessons can Aberdeen take from this significant European setback?
First and foremost, they need to improve their defensive capabilities. AEK Athens registered 27 shots on goal during the match, with 10 of those being on target, while Aberdeen managed only eight shots in total, with just two on target.
AEK dominated possession in Aberdeen's penalty area, touching the ball 43 times compared to just 13 for the Scottish side. The Greek team also exhibited superior passing accuracy at 91%, compared to Aberdeen's 77%, and completed far more passes—609 to 178.
After conceding three goals within the first 30 minutes, Thelin's squad must learn to recover defensively after conceding. Aboubakary Koita opened the scoring for AEK just 11 minutes in, followed by a second goal seven minutes later, and Niclas Eliasson added a third shortly thereafter.
"It has been a learning experience," a frustrated Miller remarked on BBC Sportsound after the first half. "If you concede early goals, you must adjust your approach, and I don't believe Aberdeen did that effectively."
Aberdeen continued to struggle in the second half, with AEK netting their fourth goal just 10 minutes in. The Dons managed to hold off further goals for nearly half an hour until Luka Jovic scored the fifth in the 81st minute, followed by a final goal just six minutes later.
Aberdeen Must Accelerate Their Learning Process
"We have a journey ahead to reach another level and compete in Europe," Thelin acknowledged after the match. "We need to build this year and next to become a more competitive team in these types of games. I believe my role as a manager is to support my players and learn from this experience."
If Aberdeen is still in the learning phase on the European stage, they must expedite their progress, as they face upcoming matches against AEK Larnaca, FC Noah, Strasbourg, and Sparta Prague before the conclusion of the league phase.
Domestically, Thelin's side cannot afford to spend more time in a learning mode. Currently, they sit second from the bottom in the Premiership with just seven points from their first eight matches, with crucial games against Hibernian and Kilmarnock on the horizon before the end of October.
"The most pressing matter right now is our crucial game on Sunday," Thelin added. "We need to concentrate on the right aspects and deliver a strong performance against Hibs to demonstrate to our supporters that we can excel in the league."