Barry Robson urges Aberdeen FC stars to follow in footsteps of Pittodrie giants and seize Europa League chance

Barry Robson has urged his Aberdeen stars to follow in the footsteps of giants and hit the £6million Europa League group stage.

If the Dons can beat BK Hacken at Pittodrie then it would see them grab the top prize rather than the consolation of dropping into the Europa Conference League. Robson wants his team to make the most of the occasion because it would be a major achievement, as Jimmy Calderwood and Sir Alex Ferguson were the last managers to get Aberdeen hitting such heights on the European stage.

Robson admitted: “The club hasn’t been in the group stage since Jimmy Calderwood’s team and before that, it was probably the great Sir Alex Ferguson team playing in games of that size. When Steve (Agnew) and I came in I don’t think anyone would have thought we’d be sitting here in this position. That’s credit to the players and the staff for everything they’ve done.

“The aim was to get to the Conference League and they did their job there. Now we have a chance to get to the Europa League and what an opportunity that is - that’s been the message to the players. I’ve told them they’ve achieved the first bit, now go and try to do the next bit. Go out and enjoy it, this is a great chance to play at that level - it’s huge. It’s time to go out and see what they can achieve. I always tell them to enjoy football, bring your best and be brave when you have the ball. Hopefully they can do that and take the opportunity to play in a huge tournament.”

Aberdeen’s one and only visit to the group stage of European football came in 2007-08, when Calderwood led them into the UEFA Cup. That was back at a time when there is only one qualifying round, like the Dons have faced this season. Pittodrie is sold-out and Robson reckons the Red Army