Latest news with #TopiKeskinen
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.'
Press and Journal
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Winger Topi Keskinen addresses fans' frustration at Aberdeen's damaging away league form
Winger Topi Keskinen understands the frustration of travelling Aberdeen supporters at the dismal away league form. Aberdeen have won only two of their previous 15 away fixtures in the Premiership. The Finland international accepts there has been little reward on the road this season for the expense and time outlaid by fans. He is determined to change this in the next two away fixtures which are set to define Aberdeen's season. The Reds face Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday in a showdown to finish fourth in the Premiership. Then, next Saturday, Aberdeen go against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden. The Red Army snapped up the Dons 20,000-ticket allocation for the final on the first day of sale. Keskinen aims to deliver back-to-back away wins to repay fans. He said: 'Of course the fans are disappointed at our away form. 'I would be disappointed if I'm travelling every single weekend to away games and your team is not getting the result. 'But trust me, the players are disappointed as well if we don't do well. 'When I came here, the first two away games against Dundee and Ross County felt like they were at home due to our fans. 'The fans have always been like that when we are away. 'We have to play well and give them a present for coming to the away games.' Fourth-placed Aberdeen, who can finish at worst fifth in the table, have already secured European qualification for next season. A fourth-placed finish is rewarded with a second qualifying round berth for the Europa League. Fifth secures a second qualifying round slot for the Conference League. Should Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup they will qualify of the Europa League play-off. That brings guaranteed group action as there is the safety net of parachuting into the Conference League. Last season, Keskinen faced Aberdeen in the Conference League groups with Finnish club HJK Helsinki. He is relishing a return to the continental stage – but wants a Europa League slot. The winger said: 'Helsinki is a smaller club and I think football here is an even bigger deal. 'The Finnish football culture is not that big. 'Here in Scotland, if we play a league game, we still have a lot of fans coming. 'In Finland, we only had big fans when we played European football. 'Playing in Europe is a different feeling.' Aberdeen are on a three-game losing streak ahead of the biggest two matches of the season. Keskinen insists he relishes the heat to deliver against Dundee United and Celtic. The 22-year-old said: 'I always enjoy the game more when there is big pressure and much to play for. 'If these last two games were nothing, there's no motivation. 'There's some meaning in these last two games… and I like that. 'We're now fourth and Dundee United are fifth. 'It's going to be a big game. 'We go there to win the game. You cannot go to get a draw.' Aberdeen beat off competition from clubs in Europe and the American MLS to sign Keskinen in an £860,000 deal from HJK Helsinki last summer. The Dons will have to pick themselves up from heavy back-to-back defeats to the Old Firm. A chastening 5-1 loss to Celtic at Pittodrie on Wednesday came just days after losing 4-0 away to Rangers. How is the mood in the Pittodrie camp? He said: 'It has been good. 'In football, if you win you cannot enjoy it too much as you always have to look forward to the next game. 'It is the same if we lose a game. 'There is no point just being sad and angry about it. 'We just have to focus on the next game.'
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Topi Keskinen wants Aberdeen to burst top six away day jinx and deliver fourth placed gift to Red Army
The Dons have travelled in huge numbers up and down the country but are yet to see an away win against any of the top six Topi Keskinen wants Aberdeen to burst their top six away jinx and give the long-suffering Red Army a fourth placed present to celebrate at Tannadice. Aberdeen know if they can avoid defeat at Dundee United it would be enough to keep them above Jim Goodwin's side in the shake-up. The Dons' support have travelled up and down the country in big numbers but have still to see an away win against any of the top six and that is something the Finnish winger wants to rectify. The Aberdeen fans are also hurting after heavy defeats back-to-back against Rangers and Celtic and are looking to finish the Premiership campaign on a high, ahead of the Scottish Cup Final. Keskinen said 'Of course, I would be disappointed if I'm travelling every single weekend to away games and if you're not getting the results. 'Of course, the fans are disappointed as well. But trust me, the players are disappointed as well if we don't do well. 'We have to play well and give them a present for coming to the away game. "When I came here, the first two away games, Dundee away and Ross County away, it felt like these were home games that I was playing in. 'They've always been like this in every away game.' Finishing fourth would offer Europa League qualification and fifth would drop down to the Europa Conference League. Keskinen reckons there will be a real edge to the Tannadice clash. 'We're now fourth and they're fifth,' the winger stated. 'It's going to be a big game tomorrow. That's good. 'It's been a long season, like I said. If these last two games were nothing, there's no motivation. I like that. 'There's some meaning in these last two games.' Aberdeen are assured of European football and it is just a case of what competition it will be. The Dons could also eclipse things by lifting the Scottish Cup and getting guaranteed European group stage football. Getting Aberdeen back into Europe was a big lure for Keskinen when he agreed to swap HJK for Pittodrie. The 22-year-old confirmed: 'Yes, of course it is. Look at the European games we played against Aberdeen last year. 'Helsinki is a smaller club, there I think it was an even bigger deal. The Finnish football culture is not that big. 'Here, if we play a league game, we still have a lot of fans coming. 'In Finland, we only had big fans when we played European football. But of course, it's a different feeling.'
