Jimmy Thelin reveals Aberdeen lessons learned from Celtic defeat as boss tells squad 'move on' from Hampden pain

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Jimmy Thelin is confident his Aberdeen squad can use their Hampden pain to make sure they extend their unbeaten Premiership campaign.

The Dons manager - who was named as the Premiership’s Manager of the Month for October - suffered his first defeat in the job after last weekend’s sobering 6-0 hammering to Celtic in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup. But he reckons his team need to put that defeat to the back of their minds and try to get back to winning ways against Dundee on Saturday night.

The Swede stated: “Yeah, we have to. For me, it's not always easy but that's a skill you have to work as a player or a staff or a coach or manager. Of course you have to take learning points and analyse the game but you have to move on. It's a new game around the corner and you have to put the focus on the right things. That's the only way to be better, how you improve from these games."

“But then it's another league, another three points to compete about. So you have to move on and that's one of the most important things. Even if you win, you have to move on. If you lose, you have to move on but always learn from both sides.”

Thelin admitted he and his team have learned a lot over the last few days. He said: “Some small things, some bigger things but we're going to keep something for ourselves here.

“We defended well in some parts but in some parts we failed and also in our build-up when we attack. So it's small things we have to adjust and that's what we have to focus on this week.”

There was cause for a double celebration at Cormack Park as Thelin was named gaffer of the month and Nicky Devlin the player.

The Aberdeen manager said: “First of all I'm really happy for Nicky. He has a good last period of his career now, some good experience in the national team, this award and his performance. Again, it's never too late to improve and grow as a player and I like to see that progress. He is also a really humble guy and how he helps his teammates and it's a good prize for him.

“So I think this (manager’s) award is for everyone to share and keep believing in the long-term project we're working with. We try to have this journey together and how we manage sometimes when we get setbacks or also in good times, stay humble and we know we have a lot of things to improve. So I think this gives energy to everybody who's working here.”

Striker Kevin Nisbet missed the semi-final but Thelin confirmed he will be back against Dundee. He admitted: “Now he's trained well the whole week and no setbacks. The other one is Dante (Polvara). I think after the break now. He’s going to be fully ready to compete for a place in the squad.”

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