Aberdeen defender Mats Knoester says the players owe the fans – and themselves – in Larnaca as they aim to bounce back from last month’s Conference League humiliation.
The Dons’ 6-0 trhashing by AEK Athens – the heaviest European defeat in the club’s history – leaves them bottom of the standings without a point from their opening two games.
They will need to show a vast improvement in Cyprus on Thursday night against an AEK Larnaca side that are joint top having won both their opening matches.
Defender Knoester said: “I think we owe them a better performance, the fans, but also ourselves. A performance that is not like us, we can do way better if you look at our team, our quality, so I definitely think we owe them something.
“If we learn from last time and do things better like we did in the league game against Kilmarnock, which isn’t an easy game as well, we showed a totally different team, there is no reason to not be able to get a result.”
Despite their continental travails, the domestic campaign has provided some evidence Aberdeen’s fortunes may be starting to turn.
The 1-0 victory at Kilmarnock last Wednesday means Jimmy Thelin’s side have won three of their past four league games, a sequence that includes three clean sheets.
“That is different [from European matters] but in terms of mentality it is a much better example of how to live a game,” Knoester added.
“I think we have showed after a few hits that we come back as a team, we stay together and we get a result so we definitely showed positive things in that.
“That is not a guarantee for Thursday night or whatever game is coming next so we have to do the same again and again.
“But I do believe if we big up the right rhythm that we can get good results.”
