Aberdeen caretaker boss Peter Leven believes the ongoing managerial uncertainty won't be a distraction as he prepares his squad to face Ross County on Saturday.
The Pittodrie board had hoped to have a permanent appointment in place for this huge home league clash after Neil Warnock left the club almost three weeks ago. However, despite talks with the preferred candidate close, coach Leven will take the team again this weekend.
There has been a lot of noise around who will get the job long-term and ultimately how Aberdeen will fare before the end of the season, with the Dons languishing in the Scottish Premiership bottom six and just three points off the relegation play-off spot. They face a Ross County side who have picked up form under new manager Don Cowie and will prove a tricky opponent.
Speaking ahead of the game, Leven attempted to play down the off-field goings on and laid the focus back on winning football matches.
He said: "No, not at all. They know their job. Their job is to win football matches, and it's our job as staff and coaches to prepare them well to get that result.
"Every game is massive at this club, I've said that since I've been here. It's Aberdeen Football Club, we are expected to win every game and that is the demands from the fans, from myself, from everybody here. So, we have got to win every game."
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Aberdeen know three points could go a long way towards easing any fears of falling into the relegation play-off position. But on the flip side, a defeat may be catastrophic to how the Dons' campaign will end.
Leven acknowledges the predicament they are in, yet is optimistic they can continue the level of performance that brought a win over Motherwell prior to the international break.
He continued: "Of course it's a big game. We know Ross County are right behind us but we are also looking up as well. We got a great three points against Motherwell in our last game, so we have just got to keep that momentum going.
"I've thought training has been really good this week, they've worked hard, they've worked well, they've took on board when we've had meetings, so we will be well-prepared for tomorrow."
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A decent crowd is expected at Pittodrie, with visitors Ross County bringing over 600 fans to the Granite City.
Aberdeen have frozen under pressure at times this season but Leven is hopeful he's done enough to ease that expectation away from the players shoulders.
"I try take the pressure off them," he stated. "I think when you get pressure, it kind of blurs your football vision.
"We've got very good footballers in this team and I think they've got to bring that tomorrow. Yes, they've got to work hard and all the fundamentals of this club, but they are good footballers and I've got to make sure they are really for that."
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