Ante Palaversa tells Aberdeen pals how they can turn Rangers atmosphere early as Jimmy Thelin message revealed

Daily Record

10-05-2025

The Dons have won just two away games in the league since September with three huge games to go in the race for third sport
Ante Palaversa knows if Aberdeen are to have any chance of coming away with third place then they need to go to Ibrox and win.
The Dons have won just two away games in the league since September and that sees them trail Hibs by three points in the fight to finish best of the rest.
‌
Two of their final three games see them on their travels and Palaversa knows they have to be a big improvement on their form outside of the Granite City.
‌
Aberdeen are away to Rangers on Sunday, then entertain Celtic and head to Dundee United on the final day of the season.
The Croatian frustratingly said: 'The coach has said we have three finals. We have to be sharp, give everything and not give anything away.'
'I really don't know the answer, but I think we're going to improve that in the future with our away games.
'It's just about how we're going to win the away games because we haven't won a lot. So we have to change that.
'We have to change that mentality as a team and go to win away games like we're winning the home games.'
A big issue has been goals away from Pittodrie. They have netted just four since the start of January and need to provide more of a cutting edge.
‌
'I will take that point for away games,' Palavesa claimed. 'So even if you play badly in an away game, you still have two or three really good chances to score.
'You have to be clinical. You have to score that, even if you have a bad game, for example. It's important.'
The good thing for Aberdeen is that Rangers' home form is equally as bad. They haven't won at Ibrox since February.
‌
The former Manchester City player claimed: 'I think if we can produce some good action in the first couple of minutes, it will be very tough for them as well.
'It can be quite hostile, exactly, it will be a totally different atmosphere, a different game. They are also at home.
'We have to be on a much higher level than the rest of the games we've been playing.'
‌
Aberdeen dropped two invaluable points when Rangers came from 2-0 behind to force a stoppage time leveller at Pittodrie last time out. The midfielder knows his team were made to pay that day.
He admitted: 'To be ready for all 90 and plus minutes. The game is not finished until the referee's whistle blows.
‌
'We have to be prepared for all kinds of moments in the game. It is a mental thing.
'We were disappointed a lot because we were really good. I think we played that game at a really good level.
'I think we were better, but football is football. You never know what the result is going to be after 90 minutes. So we have to be ready again on Sunday, on everything.'
‌
Aberdeen still have the Scottish Cup final to come as well but Palaversa wants a European place tied up ASAP. His last taste of it was Hajduk Split. He stated: 'It means a lot, of course.
'First of all, I want to, as a team and me personally, I want to finish Europe with Aberdeen to play there next year.
'We will give everything for that. I played when I was starting professional football in 2018 or 2019.
‌
'The first game was in Split (against Slavia Sofia), I think. Something like that. I can't remember.'
Aberdeen welcome back Kristers Tobers and Alexander Jensen from injury.
Thelin added: 'He (Tobers) was much better this week than he was last week, so with the tight week we have coming up I think he will be available for one of those games.
'We will need to share the load between the players, it's Sunday to Saturday so we need to be clever and keep the energy high."