{"id":293439,"date":"2023-09-22T00:34:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T00:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=293439"},"modified":"2023-09-22T00:34:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T00:34:08","slug":"aberdeen-boss-barry-robson-says-2-1-loss-gives-players-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/aberdeen-boss-barry-robson-says-2-1-loss-gives-players-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Aberdeen boss Barry Robson says 2-1 loss 'gives players confidence'"},"content":{"rendered":"
Aberdeen boss Barry Robson insisted his side\u2019s narrow defeat in Germany will give them belief they can compete at this level after falling agonisingly short in their opening Europa Conference League game.<\/p>\n
The Dons went down to a battling loss in Frankfurt despite American midfielder Dante Polvara netting his first goal for the club with a first-half equaliser.<\/p>\n
They were outdone by two tame goals after Jack MacKenzie conceded an early penalty and Robin Koch headed in from a corner to give the hosts a win. But Robson saw his men go toe-to-toe with the 2022 Europa League winners and they should have snatched a draw in injury-time when Ester Sokler volleyed wide.<\/p>\n
Insisting that their performance last night could be the spark that turns around what has been a poor campaign so far, Robson said: \u2018This gives the players confidence they belong at this level.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s good. We have shown already in three European games we can compete against good teams who are ranked higher than us.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Barry Robson believes that despite losing to Eintracht Frankfurt, his players’ performance will give them confidence\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018We have a history at Aberdeen in Europe and you feel that.<\/p>\n
\u2018I certainly do and the players do as well. We are respectful of wanting that tradition to be there and carry it on.<\/p>\n
\u2018Tonight was a different kind of performance. It was a more disciplined performance and that\u2019s what you need to do.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s hard to press really high against a team of that quality, but we got our distances right tonight.<\/p>\n
\u2018So I think we will take a lot of positives. We have put on another decent performance here against a top team.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m proud. When you wear that Aberdeen jersey, you have to show that mentality, desire, fight and tactical knowhow. I thought they all did that in abundance \u2014 and in the last ten minutes, we might have nicked a draw.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dante Polvara grabbed an equaliser for Aberdeen after 22 minutes but they ultimately lost due to two tame goals<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s frustrating to lose it on a set- play. It\u2019s disappointing to come over here and for that to happen.<\/p>\n
\u2018If they undo you with a brilliant bit of play and someone puts one in the top corner then fair enough. But to be beaten by a set-play is really frustrating.\u2019<\/p>\n
Polvara, who just signed a new three-year deal last week, admitted it was a bittersweet moment for him after his first goal for the club counted for nothing.<\/p>\n
He said: \u2018It has got to be my biggest goal in my career. I know I haven\u2019t scored a lot but it has to be up there.<\/p>\n
\u2018Yet we have come away with nothing and that is the main issue.<\/p>\n
\u2018We need points and to put in so much effort and come away with nothing is disappointing. \u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Aberdeen said they would cooperate with UEFA and authorities after a pyrotechnic flare was thrown in their end<\/p>\n
Eintracht Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmoller said: \u2018Were Aberdeen more difficult than we expected? No, we knew they would play like this and defend deep. But, at the end of the day, we won the game, so it\u2019s good.\u2019<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Dons officials admitted they were disappointed after their fans threw a pyrotechnic flare into the away end during the first half.<\/p>\n
A statement from the Pittodrie club said: \u2018The club is deeply disappointed by the actions of a small minority of supporters which threatens to tarnish the good reputation of Aberdeen FC and the vast majority of Dons supporters.<\/p>\n
\u2018The club will fully cooperate with UEFA and the relevant authorities during the course of any investigations.\u2019<\/p>\n
Frankfurt police stated: \u2018During the first half of the game, one of the away fans threw a burning pyrotechnic object into the neighbouring home fan block. Fortunately, no one was injured.<\/p>\n
\u2018We caught the crime on video and arrested the suspect.\u2019<\/p>\n