Aberdeen defender Mats Knoester has expressed a strong desire for his team to demonstrate their commitment to the fans and to themselves as they prepare for a pivotal match in Larnaca. The Dons are looking to recover from a disheartening 6-0 loss to AEK Athens, which marks the heaviest European defeat in the club’s history. This unfortunate result has positioned Aberdeen at the bottom of their group standings, having not secured a single point from their first two games.
As they gear up to face an AEK Larnaca squad that is currently joint top of the group with two wins, Knoester emphasized the importance of improving their performance. “We owe better to the fans and to ourselves. The last performance wasn’t representative of our capabilities. I firmly believe we can do much better considering the quality of our team,” he stated.
Reflecting on lessons learned from previous outings, Knoester pointed to their recent league victory against Kilmarnock as a positive example. “If we can build on what we did well in that match, which was quite intense, there’s no reason we can’t achieve a favorable result in Cyprus,” he noted.
Despite their challenges on the European stage, Aberdeen’s domestic performance is showing signs of improvement. Their recent 1-0 triumph over Kilmarnock signifies they have won three of their last four league matches, all while maintaining clean sheets. “The mentality we’ve displayed in the league is a better reflection of how to play,” Knoester commented.
He acknowledged that the team has shown resilience following tough setbacks, reinforcing their unity and determination to secure results. “While past successes don’t guarantee future outcomes, I believe that if we hit the right rhythm, we can achieve strong results moving forward,” he concluded. This positivity serves as a hopeful sign for fans, suggesting that the Dons may be on the cusp of turning their fortunes around.