IF Derek McInnes needed reminding that foreign sides from small nations should not be underestimated, it came on Monday night when he watched TV coverage of Iceland’s famous victory over England in the European Championships in France.
The Aberdeen manager will lead his team into a Europa League first qualifying tie against Fola Esch, of Luxembourg , at Pittodrie tomorrow night aware that any lapse in defence could hurt the Dons against an outfit which, a year ago, drew 1-1 with Dinamo Zagreb away from home with ten men in a Champions League qualifier.
McInnes looked back on last year’s Europa League excursions and ties against teams from Macedonia, Croatia and Kazakhstan and the quality of that opposition as Aberdeen failed to progress in the competition.
"When you see a result like Iceland,” he said, “and the improvement of a lot of countries it shows you can't take anyone lightly. What you have seen at the Euros is some of the bigger nations' flair players not turning up and they've gone out.
"If those players haven't played to their level then they've become vulnerable.
"We have been drawn against teams in the past that have not been ones you have heard of but when you dig deeper you see the improvement, the quality and the finances.”
Winger Jonny Hayes, midfielder Kenny McLean and defenders Ash Taylor and Callum Morris all missed the 3-0 friendly victory over Brechin City at Glebe Park because of injuries but only the latter is expected to miss the clash with Fola while Niall McGinn arrived back yesterday afternoon following Euro 2016 duty with Northern Ireland and went straight into a training session.
"We have never been guilty of complacency here,” McInnes added. “We have always been respectful to opponents.
"The important thing from our point of view is the standard of our own performance and what we will bring to the game. That's the same whether we're favourites or the opposition are; the approach doesn't change.”
McInnes welcomes the challenge of the tactical battle as Fola director of football, Pascal Welter, who watched the Dons beat Brechin City in a friendly at Glebe Park, warned he saw weaknesses in their set-up that he believed could be exploited by the amateurs from Luxembourg.
"European football is all about different referees, different managers and ways of playing, and it can be a game of chess at times. But I love that; trying to find ways to win games.”
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