With the Scottish Premiership season reaching its thrilling conclusion, Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson addressed the media ahead of a pivotal Saturday showdown against Dundee United at Pittodrie. The stakes couldn't be higher: a single point would secure the Dons' top-flight survival, but Robinson is preaching caution despite his team's recent resurgence.
"We want to finish the season strongly," Robinson stated firmly, acknowledging that Aberdeen are "not out of the woods yet." While a defeat could still keep them safe depending on results elsewhere—notably St Mirren's clash with Kilmarnock—the manager is keeping his focus narrow: "We can only concentrate on ourselves."
Buoyed by a three-game unbeaten run, the Dons are eager to maintain their momentum. "There have been signs of improvement," Robinson admitted, "but we know it is not the finished article." He dismissed any suggestion that Dundee United, managed by Jim Goodwin, might lack motivation, insisting they'll be "right up for the game."
Looking ahead to the summer rebuild, Robinson confirmed he's already identified which players will stay and which will be moved on. "The problems we have had this season won't be fixed in one window," he explained, adding that his immediate focus has been on navigating the current survival battle rather than lining up new signings. When asked about transfer targets, he quipped: "We have good people at the football club that have put about 500 names in front of me every day."
The manager also addressed squad balance, admitting it "isn't right" at the moment, while praising loan striker Toyosi Olusanya for injecting something fresh into the attack. "He has come up here and given the team something they didn't have before," Robinson said. Though Olusanya "needs a goal," he has "complemented Kevin [Nisbet] very well" in recent matches.
On the injury front, there's positive news: Nicky Devlin could return after nearly three months out, Emmanuel Gyamfi is available, though Alexander Jensen remains a doubt. As Aberdeen gear up for what could be a defining 90 minutes, Robinson's message is clear: finish strong, build confidence, and lay the groundwork for a brighter future.