Mats Knoester explains why he chose Aberdeen transfer over other 'good financial' offers

Mats Knoester lost last season’s Danish Cup Final but this season he would love to walk away as a winner at Aberdeen.

The Dutch defender is in line to make his Dons’ debut in the Scottish Cup clash with Dunfermline Athletic a Pittodrie. The 26-year-old arrived this week from Ferencvaros but spent last season on-loan in Denmark where AGF, who lost their showcase final 1-0 to Silkeborg. It was a painful session but Knoetser has kept his runner-up medal as a motivator to go all the way in Scotland.

“I got to the cup final in Denmark last season,” the new boy claimed. It was an exciting game and great experience, although we lost in the end. So you end up with nothing but the journey was great, it was still special because you can win something in a few games.

“We played Silkeborg and it was a close game, although we didn’t play to our maximum. Some of the guys were crying when we didn’t win, especially the ones who had been there for a long time so knew how big it was.

“For me, it showed how small the difference can be between winning a cup and losing a cup. That was the biggest lesson, when you get these chances you have to take them because it had been a long time for AGF.

“I have my medal at home in Rotterdam, I keep it because it still an achievement and a lesson. Some guys thrown them away, I know that, but I decided to keep it. Coming to Aberdeen I want to be on the other side of it and win things.”

Knoester had a number of options when he decided he was going to leave Hungary. He could have returned to the Netherlands, taken up more lucrative offers but nothing that excited him on a footballing front. That was until the Aberdeen recruitment team declared their interest.

He said: “I had interest from other clubs,