Julen Etxabeguren admits he's a big fan of Scotland's split system – but still had to explain to his puzzled Spanish friends how it at all works.
The Dundee defender hopes to help Paul Hartley's side seal back-to-back top-six finishes with victory over Hamilton in today's final match before the divide. But Etxabeguren, who began his career with Real Sociedad, has told of how he's had to enlighten his pals back home about the how the controversial split operates.
“I remember last year Dundee were top-six and the teams seventh and eighth had more points than us," he said. “Everyone was asking back in Spain how we were higher up the table. I had to explain how it works.
“Everything is now in our own hands for Saturday. If we win we will be there and that is the most important thing.
“It is the first time I have heard about this but I think it is good because there are four or five teams all fighting for three positions. So the split is a good thing. Everyone wants to be in the top six and to play their part against the top teams. I think we are but we need to prove it on Saturday. I think we should be there and I am confident we will be.”
Etxabeguren is revelling in a new defensive system under manager Paul Hartley and the 25-year-old, who helped the Dark Blues keep a clean sheet in Tuesday's goalless draw with Celtic, believes they are now a tougher nut to crack.
“I have never played with three defenders at the back before," admitted Extabeguren. “In Spain, it was 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1. It is good.
“We have been working on it at training and it also worked well at Celtic Park and at Aberdeen earlier in the season even though we lost 2-0. We are playing really well just now. We are playing well as a team.
“We are defending and attacking as a team and we have worked well as a team. It got us an important point against Celtic.”
Etxabeguren's own season has been hampered by injuries but the former East Fife ace insists he's making up for lost time.
He said: “I don’t think I have had a good run of games because of the injuries.
“I have been unlucky with strange injuries, especially to my eye.
“I also hurt my shoulder.
“Overall I have had good performances but I have also missed a lot of games.
“It was also a hard time especially with my eye injury.
“I feel good.
“I lost a bit of sight but I am fine playing football.”
Dundee will have to seal their top-six slot on Accies' plastic pitch this afternoon but that holds no fear for their manager, nor their players.
Etxabeguren said:“I would prefer to play on grass.
“The teams decide what is better and if you have to play on astro it is fine because these pitches have really improved and are really good.
“Kilmarnock’s one is a good one so there is no problem. “You only have to change some minor things.”
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