Latest news with #Tobers
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kristers Tobers still embracing Aberdeen Scottish Cup euphoria as Latvian reflects on 'hard to comprehend' moment
The big defender has opened up on helping bring the Scottish Cup back to the Granite City for the first time since 1990 Kristers Tobers has been blown away by the reaction to Aberdeen 's Scottish Cup win and wishes every footballer could experience something like it. The Latvian captain is now back home on international duty preparing for games against Azerbaijan and Albania. But he is still on a high from helping the Dons to glory and the euphoria that has gone with it, as they finally brought the Scottish Cup back to Aberdeen after more than three decades. Proud Tobers said: 'Well, yes this was a very, very long-awaited moment for everyone. It was over 35 years ago Aberdeen had last won that cup, so it had been a long time coming. 'People wrote on Instagram, Facebook and even when they met us on the street, they said thank you for the feeling and emotion we were able to give to them. 'It's hard to comprehend. They said there would be a big celebration, a big parade, but somehow it didn't feel like that in the morning. 'But then we were on that parade on the day and well, I wish every footballer could experience something like that. 'We were told there were 135,000 people there. There was no space, those streets were crowded, full of people. It was super emotional.' Tobers had just come back from injury and was on the bench. He came on in extra-time and helped Aberdeen to take the game to penalties, where they dramatically saw off Celtic. And the 24-year-old said: 'It is especially important because I'm a centre-back and the positions don't really change. 'Some of our players started to go down with cramp. I knew I would get on. I felt confident and tried to help the team as best I could. 'It worked. We didn't concede a goal and the victory was super.' Very few people gave the Dons a chance going into the game. They had been on a losing run and also lost their last four games against Celtic. Tobers confirmed the belief came from boss Jimmy Thelin. He said: 'It was such a sweet, sweet victory, knowing that in the previous game at home against them we lost. There was a feeling of bitterness after the game we lost. 'Then we were all ready for that final. The fact that we had such a big opportunity and we knew we had to take it. That's why everyone went all out for that game. 'The coach had been saying for two weeks, 'It's our game and we're going to win. So let's all get in the mood'.' Aberdeen also have the added extra of guaranteed European football until Christmas as they initially go into the Europa League qualifiers. Tobers admitted that is big factor for him and he said: 'Yes, I am staying. I have a contract in place. At the time. it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to with the injury in the second part of the season but overall I'm very happy there. 'My main focus is to make sure I am over all my small injuries and I can prepare for next season. There are a lot of games coming up, both in the league cups and in the Europa League, which means you have games every third or fourth day.' Tobers, who came in from Grasshoppers in January to stabilise the Dons' defence, knows Aberdeen and others are trying to challenge the Celtic and Rangers' duopoly. He said: 'What a season, that started with 13 consecutive wins, followed by 14 consecutive losses. 'Then we were fighting for third or fourth place. In the end, we were fifth and that only ensured the Europa Conference League qualification, so to win the cup was super important to us.' 'Other clubs are trying to challenge them, reduce their lead and try to overtake them.' The Latvian admitted it was a big decision to leave Switzerland for Scotland – and said the Red Army played their part in selling Aberdeen to him. Tobers, speaking to Sporta Studija TV, added: 'I didn't really know what to do. I had a lot of discussions with my agent, friends and family. In the end, it seemed like I had to try and do something new. 'I have the opportunity to play in the Europa League and that also came into my thinking. 'I also watched a couple of Aberdeen games. They have nearly 20,000 fans at the stadium As a player that is the kind of atmosphere you want to play in and it was another reason I went to Aberdeen.'
Press and Journal
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Kristers Tobers return timeline delivered by Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin confirmed Kristers Tobers will end his injury hell this season and play his part in the fight for third and Scottish Cup final. A £6o0,000 January transfer window signing, Tobers has been sidelined by a hamstring problem for two months. Latvia captain Tobers last featured in a 2-2 draw with Dundee United on March 2, when he was forced off injured in the first half. Thelin confirmed the 24-year-old is back in full training and will return to action to boost the Dons' bid to finish third in the Premiership. Aberdeen have three games remaining in the Premiership this season, beginning with a trip to Rangers on Sunday. Thelin's side then face Celtic at home on Wednesday before a trip to Dundee United next Saturday. Tobers will feature in that Premiership run in and will be fit to face Celtic in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden on May 24. Thelin said: 'Kristers is training well. 'Sometimes you need that recovery period to get into the team again and Kristers is there and really hungry. 'He is much better this week than last week, but it is the timing. 'The games are coming quick and I think he will be available for one of the games as we need to share the load between the players. 'It's three games from Sunday to Saturday, so we need to be clever and keep the energy high.' Tobers was secured in the January window from Swiss top-flight club Grasshoppers. The centre-back was a regular first-team starter and played a key role in the Dons' revival after a crash in Premiership form during the winter. Thelin said: 'It has been frustrating for him. 'We knew we had to play him when he arrived, and between seasons, it's always a little bit of a calculated risk. 'But at that moment we really needed to bring in someone who could help us to get out of that challenging period. 'We did a lot of important things at that moment to help us to get out on the other side. 'Having the cup final to aim for helps – everyone wants to be fit for that!' Thelin will make a late fitness call on right-back Alexander Jensen ahead of the trip to Rangers. Jensen was ruled out of the 1-0 loss at St Mirren at the weekend due to a quad muscle injury. However, the full-back came through a full-training session on Friday. Midfielder Sivert Heltne Nilsen, striker Ester Sokler and winger Vicente Besuijen are all ruled out for the rest of the season. Aberdeen lost valuable ground in the race to finish third by losing at St Mirren. The Dons now trail third-placed Hibs by three points, with the Easter Road club also holding a superior goal advantage. Thelin said: 'Still our aim is to qualify for Europe and nothing has changed in our mentality – in what we want to achieve and how we get there. 'We try to be the best we can be and deliver performances and results. 'This team is ready for the game against Rangers. 'It is a good game to play now and it is good that we have this tight schedule of fixtures. 'We have that focus on game by game now.' Aberdeen were leading 2-0 against 10-man Rangers at Pittodrie last month but were left shellshocked when the visitors fought back to draw 2-2. Rangers netted a last-gasp equaliser through Ianis Hagi in the 96th minute. Thelin insists that late capitulation will have no relevance ahead of the trip to Govan. He said: 'You can't look back and think maybe things should have been different. 'You can't do that when you're in the middle of the season. 'And at the end of the season, you have to always put all the energy you have on what is in front of you. 'You cannot look back with regrets. 'Instead, you can always learn, and you can improve. 'Rather than look back you have to focus on what you have in front of you right now. 'Rangers are ahead of us on the table and in the future we want to be better and better every season. 'The best way to do that is to play against good teams and try to be better all the time.'
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tobers insists Dons will build on Dundee win
Aberdeen defender Kristers Tobers admits there was a sense of relief after they ended their winless league run, but says they are not satisfied with just one victory. The Dons were 2-1 winners at Dundee last time out, their first Premiership triumph since early November - a result that lifted them up to third in the table. Speaking ahead of Saturday's visit of Kilmarnock, Tobers was asked what the mood has been like around the place following the win at Dens Park. "Of course positive," he said. "The guys are happy. "We are going to build from that. It was really important and a relief for a lot of players. Important we got three points and now we keep building on that and hopefully it is going to be a positive result tomorrow as well." Latvia captain Tobers arrived at Pittodrie early in the January transfer window in the middle of the winless streak, and says the mood in camp has always been upbeat despite on-field issues. "It has always been positive, everybody understood we cannot be negative before going to the game," he said. "Everybody needs to look forward even if it is a hard situation. Everybody was positive still and looking forward to a game to break the not winning streak. "We got the cup win (against Dunfermline) as well but we were missing that win in the [league] so that helped us to boost our confidence even more."
BBC News
22-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Tobers insists Dons will build on Dundee win
Aberdeen defender Kristers Tobers admits there was a sense of relief after they ended their winless league run, but says they are not satisfied with just one Dons were 2-1 winners at Dundee last time out, their first Premiership triumph since early November - a result that lifted them up to third in the ahead of Saturday's visit of Kilmarnock, Tobers was asked what the mood has been like around the place following the win at Dens Park."Of course positive," he said. "The guys are happy."We are going to build from that. It was really important and a relief for a lot of players. Important we got three points and now we keep building on that and hopefully it is going to be a positive result tomorrow as well."Latvia captain Tobers arrived at Pittodrie early in the January transfer window in the middle of the winless streak, and says the mood in camp has always been upbeat despite on-field issues."It has always been positive, everybody understood we cannot be negative before going to the game," he said. "Everybody needs to look forward even if it is a hard situation. Everybody was positive still and looking forward to a game to break the not winning streak."We got the cup win (against Dunfermline) as well but we were missing that win in the [league] so that helped us to boost our confidence even more."
