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Press and Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen lifts lid on mammoth 18-month season - that will continue with Euro under-21 finals this month
Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen is determined to end a mammoth 18-month long season by becoming a history maker with Finland. Keskinen is set to star for his nation in the UEFA European under-21 Championship that runs in Slovakia from June 11 to 28. The 22-year-old has been recalled from the senior squad for the Euro U21 finals because the tournament has immense significant for the Finns. It is only the second time Finland have reached the Euro U21 finals, with the previous appearance in 2009. Participation in the Euros further extends Keskinen's gruelling season that began in January last year with HJK Helsinki. He enters the Euros on a high having helped Aberdeen secure Scottish Cup glory with a win against Celtic in the final. Keskinen has played 71 games without a break and admits that relentless schedule is tiring, more emotionally and physically. However, he is fired up for one last push to add international glory to his Scottish Cup winning triumph. He said: 'I knew I was going to have a long season when I didn't get sold in the January transfer window last year. 'I thought 'now I'm in Helsinki and the target is to go in the summer'. 'I have played for one-and-a-half years now but that is just professional football. 'When you have so many games you don't have that much time to think about it. 'I just had to make sure that I recovered well from the different games. 'I'll have a few days off and then I have the Euros. 'I think mentally it's even harder than physically.' Keskinen's season began in January last year when competing in the Finnish Cup. The winger had only a month off having competed in the UEFA Conference League group stages until late December. He faced Aberdeen home and away during that group stage in 2023, starting a 2-2 draw in Finland on November 30. Keskinen played 22 games for HJK Helsinki in the new Finnish season before an £860,000 transfer to Aberdeen last summer. The winger's final appearance for HJK Helsinki was when starting a 3-0 win against AC Oulu in the Veikkausliiga on July 27. His debut for Aberdeen was on August 17 when coming off the bench to score a stoppage time winner in a 1-0 League Cup win against Queen's Park. Keskinen said: 'We had a longer season with HJK Helsinki because we were in the group stages (Conference League). 'We were still playing in the group stages when all the other teams were back from their holidays. 'Helsinki came back in January, so I had some of December off.' Finland will kick-start their Euro U21 campaign with a group clash against Netherlands at the Košická Futbalová arena on June 12. They also face Ukraine and Denmark in Group D with the final match on June 18. Should Finland progress from the groups the quarter-finals are on June 21 and 22. The semi-finals are on June 25 with the final set for three days later. Aberdeen return for pre-season training in late June in preparation for a campaign with guaranteed European league action. Keskinen said: 'I'm likely to get extra time off (by Aberdeen) having been involved at the Euros. 'It depends how far we get. 'But when you play 18 months of football in a row, you don't really need a full pre-season.' Keskinen played a key role in Finland's qualification campaign in Group E for the Euro U21 finals. During that campaign the winger broke into the Finland senior squad. He made his senior debut when introduced off the bench in a 3-0 Nations League loss to Greece on September 7. His first start for Finland came three days later in a 2-0 Nations League loss to England at Wembley. Capped four times Keskinen was recalled to the under-21 squad because success in the tournament means so much to the nation. He said: 'It's only the second time in Finnish history we've had a team in the Euro under-21 finals. 'This is a really big thing for Finnish football culture. 'We have a really good team and want to go through from the group. 'My friend Jukka Raitala who was a teammate at Helsinki is 36 now. 'He was in the team the last time Finland were in the under-21 Euros, so it's been a while.'
Daily Record
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Topi Keskinen is Aberdeen marathon man as gruelling schedule almost over bar one more target to hit
The Finn has been paying non-stop for almost 18 months but Scottish Cup party wasn't the end of the hard work Scottish Cup hero Topi Keskinen hasn't had a break for 18 months and won't get one until after this month's Euro Under-21 tournament finishes. The Finnish star played half a season for HJK before he moved to Aberdeen in an £800,000 move last August, which has seen him play constantly for the last year-and-a-half. It has been non-stop for the flying winger but he is looking for one last push, with Finland's young guns gracing the Euros for only the second time in their history. Keskinen will head to the finals in Slovakia full of confidence after helping Aberdeen shock Celtic in last month's Scottish Cup Final. When asked about his gruelling schedule, he said: 'Yes, of course it is. I knew already when I didn't get sold in the January transfer window, I was like, 'OK, now I'm in Helsinki.' 'I was like, 'OK, now the target is to go in the summer.' 'I knew already that it's going to mean I will have a long season but I've done better than I thought I would do. 'Of course it's mentally and physically tough. I think mentally it's even harder than physically. Yes, it is but you're still waiting for professional football. 'It's good that you have so many games, you don't have that much time to think about it, it's just football. 'I have the Euros and after that one I'll take it easy. But it's just football, it's not that deep, you know? 'If I play one-and-a-half years, everyone has different stories and all that so I just need to make sure I recover well to the different games.' The 22-year-old's last lengthy break was back in December 2023 but even then he didn't get a long breather as HJK had group stage Euro football. That's something he will be returning to with Aberdeen. He recalled: 'I came back to Helsinki in January and we had a longer season because we were in the group stage. 'We were still playing in the group stage and we had to come back from our holidays. So I had December off and then I was back in.' Finland are out make their mark at the Euro finals but they have a tough opener against a talented young Dutch side next Wednesday. They then take on Ukraine and Denmark in a whirlwind seven days. Keskinen and his team aren't going to make up the numbers, with the Dons star making it clear that progress from their section is the aim. Keskinen, along with a handful of his team-mates, has already been capped at senior level so it shows the potential in their squad. One of his four outings for the senior side came at Wembley and that experience will stand him in good stead for the Euro finals. He said: 'It's in Slovakia and we play Holland, Ukraine and Denmark. It's an OK group. We want to go through because we have a really good team. 'Four or five of the group already have full Finnish caps.' It is also a competition that will put Keskinen in the shop window. It has been more than 15 years since the Finnish Under-21s last qualified for these finals. It has been a big thing back in his homeland as they look for a new golden generation to burst on to the scene. Keskinen admitted: 'My friend Jukka Raitala, he's 36 now, he was in the group last time they were at the Euro finals. 'So it's been a while. Jukka was my team-mate in Helsinki, he played centre-back or left-back. He still plays now (for Gnistan).' The Finn will get a break after the Euros to finally recharge the batteries before he gets ready to go with Aberdeen in the Europa League qualifiers. Jimmy Thelin will be looking to build on their Scottish Cup win as he prepares for his second season at Pittodrie. Keskinen now has more competition in the wide areas with Aberdeen snapping up Australian winger Nicolas Milanovic from Western Sydney Wanderers. But the Finn has been one of the first names on the team sheet and he's confident of rising to the challenge and shining in the new campaign at home and abroad. The summer break will give him the chance to find some more energy and he said: 'After the last game of the Euros, I'll get some time off. June 18 is the last match of the group stage so it all depends on how far we get. 'When you play 18 months of football in a row, you don't really need a full pre-season. 'I'm likely to get extra time off having been involved at the Euros.'
Press and Journal
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Winger Topi Keskinen outlines fundamental change to Aberdeen's game for Scottish Cup final
Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen started against England at Wembley this season – but insists the Scottish Cup final is the BIGGEST game of his career. The 22-year-old has also won the Finnish Cup with HJK Helsinki, but that pales in comparison with the bid to lift silverware with the Dons. Aberdeen face treble-chasing Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden on Saturday. A 20,000-strong Red Army will travel to the national stadium and Keskinen has vowed the Dons will fight to take the trophy back to the Granite City. Keskinen said: 'I've played in some big games, but never in a cup final like this. 'The Scottish Cup final is the biggest and most important game for me. 'It is absolutely massive, and we have so many fans coming down to support us. 'They have travelled in numbers to every single game we have played. 'That's why we need to show them our fighting spirit in the final.' An £860.000 signing from HJK Helsinki last summer Keskinen has broken into the Finland team since moving to Pittodrie. He earned his debut senior cap in a 3-0 Nations League loss to Greece on September 7. Three days later, he started a 2-0 Nations League loss to England in front of 70,000 fans at Wembley. Keskinen arrived in the Granite City, having already secured cup success during his time at HJK Helsinki. He won the Finnish Ligacup in 2023, with HJK Helsinki beating AC Oulu 2-1 in the final. Ending Aberdeen's 35-year Scottish Cup drought would have far more significance for the winger, however. Keskinen said: 'I won the cup with HJK Helskini, but it's a pre-season tournament. 'Usually if you win it, you get bad luck for the league. 'However, we won the league after that cup success as well – but many teams aren't so lucky. 'That cup is not that big. That's why I didn't like the cups in Finland that much, because teams don't really care about them. 'In Finland if you lose the cup, you're like: 'Okay, now we have less games and we can focus on the league.' 'So that's the mentality there – I don't really like that. 'I think the cup should be like it is in Scotland, where you really want to win it. 'It's great to have the experience of these big important games where there is a lot of hype.' Aberdeen go into the final less than two weeks after suffering a heavy 5-1 loss to Celtic at Pittodrie in the Premiership. The Reds were also hammered 6-0 at Hampden in the League Cup semi-final in November. Keskinen is under no illusions over the need for Aberdeen to be clinical in front of goal at the national stadium. He said: 'When we get our chances in the final, we need to score. 'It was the same with Helsinki when we played the European games against good teams – if you don't score, they are going to score. 'When Celtic get chances, they are going to score, usually. 'I like Hampden a lot as the more space, the better for me. 'It is a special feeling playing at that stadium.' Aberdeen have not won the Scottish Cup since a penalty shoot-out victory over Celtic in the final in 1990. The Reds' previous Scottish Cup final appearance was in 2017 when they were narrowly edged out 2-1 by Celtic. Keskinen said: 'My girlfriend is coming to the final. 'My family and friends are not coming as you can watch the final in Finland – they will all be watching.'
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Never been in a final like this' – Aberdeen star admits Celtic Scottish Cup clash is the biggest game of his LIFE
The Dons are looking for their first trophy in over a decade ONCE IN A LIFETIME 'Never been in a final like this' – Aberdeen star admits Celtic Scottish Cup clash is the biggest game of his LIFE Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TOPI KESKINEN is gearing up for the biggest game of his career at Hampden. Last summer Aberdeen forked out £860,000 to buy the 22-year-old winger from HJK Helsinki. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 2 Topi Keskinen will be hoping to fire Aberdeen to glory in the Scottish Cup final Credit: Andrew Barr 2 Keskinen says the final against Celtic will be like nothing he's ever experienced Credit: PA That made him the Dons' most expensive player in 20 years. Since then Keskinen has helped Finland's Under-21s qualify for this summer's Euros in Slovakia for only the second time in their history. Now he's hoping to round off his debut season at Pittodrie by landing Aberdeen's first Scottish Cup triumph in 35 years. Keskinen's only other winners' medal was a Finnish League Cup victory for HJK against AC Oulu two years ago. He said: 'I would say Saturday is the biggest and most important game I've ever played in. 'I've played some big games actually. 'But I've never been in a cup final like this, so it's the biggest, and it's a special feeling playing at Hampden as well. 'I won a cup at Helsinki, but that is a pre-season tournament against other Finnish league teams. 'Usually if you win it you get bad luck when the league starts and it's not that important. 'That's why I didn't like the cups in Finland all that much, because teams there don't really care about them. Shock moment Aberdeen star hit with seat thrown from own fans after rivals' pitch invasion 'If you lose the cup you're like, 'OK, now we have fewer games and we can focus on the league'. 'That's the mentality there, but the cup should be like it is in Scotland where you really want to win it. 'It's good to have these important games because they are the best experience with all the hype. It's massive and that's why we need to give a good performance, and show fighting spirit to the fans as well.' That much is clear as few outside Pittodrie or the Red Army will give Jimmy Thelin's side any chance of denying Celtic their latest Treble. The Hoops have scored 19 goals in the five previous meetings of the clubs this season. Six of those came without reply when Keskinen and his team-mates faced them at Hampden in last November's Premier Sports Cup semi-final. But Aberdeen will cling to the memory of fighting back from 2-0 down to draw at Celtic Park earlier in the campaign. That and the fact Peter Leven's Dons side pushed Brendan Rodgers men all the way before losing on penalties in last season's Scottish Cup semi. The Dons took an early lead through Bojan Miovski that day, and Keskinen knows success on Saturday depends on doing something similar. He added: 'We need to make sure we score when we get our chances because if you don't score, they usually will. 'We made chances early against Celtic, but when we got them we didn't take them. 'It was the same in Helsinki when we played the European games against good teams. 'When quality teams get chances they are likely to score.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Topi Keskinen seeks Aberdeen Scottish Cup glory over Celtic to break Finnish bad luck omen
The pacey Finn is desperate to see the Dons beat Celtic and end their 35-year-wait to lift the Scottish Cup Trophy-seeking Topi Keskinen is desperate for Aberdeen to get the breaks at Hampden because the only other cup he has lifted was deemed to bring bad luck. The Finland winger will head to Hampden on Saturday looking to upset the odds by sinking Celtic and helping the Dons land their first Scottish Cup in 35 years. The 22-year-old clinched the Liiga Cup back in 2023 but it is seen as something of a bad luck omen in his homeland. It is effectively a pre-season tournament and if you are successful in it then you don't normally have a good domestic campaign. Keskinen's HJK did buck that trend, after beating AC Oulu 2-1 in the final, by going on to be crowned Finnish champions. Now the winger is hoping a surprise Hampden triumph can spark a new era of success for Jimmy Thelin 's men. Keskinen explained: 'Yeah, it's basically a pre-season tournament. So we play against Finnish league teams. It's like, usually if you win it, you get bad luck for the league. Well, we won the league after that one as well, but many teams aren't so lucky. It's not that big.' Cup fever has hit Aberdeen with 20,000 tickets sold in less than a day. The majority of the Red Army will be travelling south in hope rather than expectation. Keskinen knows the cups are a big deal in Scotland compared to Finland, where clubs prefer not to go the distance. The attacker explained: 'It's massive. That's why we need to give a good performance and show fighting spirit for the fans as well. 'They're travelling every single game that we play. That's why I didn't like the cups in Finland that much, because teams don't care about them. 'I think the cup should be like here in Scotland, where you really want to win it. But in Finland, for example, if you lose the cup, you're like, okay, now we have fewer games and we can focus on the league. So that's the mentality there. I don't really like that one.' Keskinen has played in Europe and internationally against the likes of England at Wembley but reckons this final will be the biggest of the lot. 'I would say it's the biggest game,' he claimed. The most important game that I've played. 'I think so. I've played some big games, actually, but I've never been in a Cup Final like this. So I think that's the biggest game for me.' Aberdeen are looking to lift their first trophy in more than a decade. It will also be Jimmy Thelin's first cup final. There is an added incentive for Aberdeen because if they can come out on top then they would also be guaranteed European group stage football. Keskinen's girlfriend will boost the Red Army but the rest of his family will be watching back home in Finland. He confirmed: 'My girlfriend is coming, but she's the only one coming. 'My family and friends are not coming over. Nowadays, you can watch (the game) in Finland as well, so they're not making the trip. Only my girlfriend will come across. 'Like I said, it's good to have these important games because they are the best experience and all the hype and all that. It's really nice.' Celtic have had the upper hand over Aberdeen this season and they need to find a way of redressing the balance. Thelin's side did get a comeback draw in their early season run but since then Celtic have put them in their place with four wins, including that bruising 6-0 defeat on their last Hampden visit as Brendan Rodgers' men eased past them in the League Cup semi-finals on the way to lift the first trophy of their Treble push. Rodgers even had the luxury of resting a number of key players for the last game at Pittodrie and still came out 5-1 victors. The Dons have lost their last four games and finished the Premiership campaign in a disappointing fifth place. The one positive for Aberdeen is that in all the games they have created chances. But they haven't taken them and then have been punished at the other end. Keskinen admitted: 'We need to score when we get our chances in front of goal. It was the same in Helsinki when we played the European games against good teams. 'If you don't score, they are going to score. Celtic, for example, when we get the chance, we just have to score from there. Because when they get the chance, they are going to score, usually.' Keskinen's pace and direct approach will be a major threat to Celtic. Thelin will be looking to use that on the wide open Hampden pitch. He claimed: 'Yes, well, the more space, the better, usually. So I like that one a lot. It's a special feeling when you play in Hampden as well.' It will be even more special if Aberdeen and Keskinen were to go all the way and lift silverware.
