Lewis Ferguson urges Aberdeen FC to grasp golden Europa League chance but warns foes have one 'obvious advantage'

Lewis Ferguson reckons Aberdeen won’t get a better chance of making the Europa League group stage.

The Dons will face either Zalgiris Vilnius or BK Hacken in the play-off round this month. Ferguson was a European regular for the Dons under Derek McInnes and Stephen Glass but despite some glory runs never made the group stage. The Scotland star was also part of the team, who under Glass, demolished BK Hacken in the Conference League qualifiers two years ago.

Even if the Dons weren’t to progress they would have the consolation of dropping into the Conference League groups. Ferguson said: “It is a good draw for Aberdeen. I don’t think they will get a much better chance of getting into the group stage of the Europa League. It is a great chance for the team to play at that level. Before we always had to get through a few qualifiers. We ended up against the likes of Burnley, Qarabag, Rijeka and Sporting Lisbon. This is as good a chance as they might get. There is a lot of money involved for the club. It is exciting for the fans to go and get all the trips in the group stages and great for the players to be playing at that level.”

Fergie also knows the pitfalls of early European ties. Robson’s men have only had one competitive game while the Swedes and Lithuanians are past the halfway point in their leagues, where they both sit, respectively, in second place.

He knows and hopes that is where the quality of the team has to come to the fore. The Bologna star said: “I know Aberdeen won’t take BK Hacken or Vilnius lightly.

"They’ll give them the respect and know both teams are doing well in their respective leagues and aren’t in the competition to make up the numbers. BK Hacken have played 18 games and Vilnius more than 20 games.

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