Boss Barry Robson reckons Aberdeen have had to suffer the toughest match schedule in European football.
And he is confident the Dons’ gruelling fixture card has created a unity and character within his rebuilt squad.
Aberdeen are set to face Hibs at Easter Road in their seventh away game in eight fixtures – across just 36 days.
The trip Edinburgh comes less than 72 hours after the Dons drew 2-2 with HJK Helsinki in sub zero temperatures and snow in Finland.
Robson says he has never witnessed such a punishing away schedule in 30 years in professional football.
He reckons no other team in Europe has been forced to pack as many away trips in such a short period as the Reds.
During that run the Dons have travelled to Greece and Finland and had overnight stays in Scotland.
Robson says that time away together has helped create a bond, character and fight in his squad.
And he has called for another push on the road as the Dons, placed tenth in the Premiership, bid to kick-start their league campaign against Hibs.
He said: “Hibs on Sunday will be our seventh game in eight matches away from home.
“That’s a difficult a schedule as any team in Europe will have.
“I have been in the game 30 years and I have never seen that before.
“It is a bit unheard of but that is how difficult it has been.
“I know that schedule is because we played in a semi-final and are in Europe.
“But for us it is away from home overnight stays.
“That’s what has helped us create a bond
“And we are still in there fighting and that’s what we need to bring again at the weekend against Hibs.”
Balancing Europe and Premiership
Aberdeen are languishing in the bottom six after an inconsistent start to the Premiership campaign.
Robson made seven changes to the starting line up in Finland with one eye on the Hibs clash.
He accepts the Dons have struggled to deliver wins in Sunday fixtures immediately after Thursday Euro matches.
Robson has discussed that problem with his squad and is determined there will be no Euro hangover at Easter Road.
He said: “It has been difficult (after Europe), we all know that.
“We have all spoken about that and we all get it.
“Let’s hope we are learning and we are getting better.
“Hib is a game we are looking forward to.”
Goal hero MacDonald moves into contention to face Hibs
One of the changes to the starting line-up was the return of defender Angus MacDonald.
The centre-back was a key player in the second half of last season to help Aberdeen qualify for Europe.
However he had fallen out of the starting line-up this season.
The draw in Helsinki was only MacDonald’s second start of the campaign.
When Robson was asked if MacDonald’s shift in Finland had propelled him into his thoughts for Hibs, he said: “Yes, I think so.
“Big Angus did really well in coming in.
“Goals change games.
“After Helsinki got their goal that gave them the momentum.
“They put us under pressure for about 15 or 20 minutes and then Angus puts one in.
“Then in the second half we are the team in the ascendency with corners and throwing things in.
“It was one of them when it was us and then them, but I think the weather played a big part in that.”
Robson hails ‘outstanding’ Jack Milne
Defender Jack Milne, 20, was also pitched against HJK Helsinki for his first Dons start.
Robson praised Milne for an “outstanding” performance in Finland.
And he revealed how players who have been on the fringes this season such as MacDonald and Milne have been sacrificing their days off to train in a bid to get into Robson’s first team.
He said: “I thought Jack Milne was outstanding which shows you how well he has been playing.
“He was up against a good player.
“You could see how good Jack is.
“He can handle the ball, he is tall, quick and can play there (wing-back) and can play as a centre-back or central midfielder.
“So he has that.
“They have worked so hard.
“What people don’t realise is the minimal days we do get off, our players and staff, we still come in on the days off to help these boys.
“And we ask them to come in on their days off to do more work.
“It has been seven days a week and they have been great – but that is because they want to do well.”
Conversation