Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League would be a greater achievement than winning a national cup competition.
The Dons must navigate four qualifying rounds if they are to make the group stages of Europa League with Luxembourgish club Fola Esch standing in Aberdeen’s way in the first qualifying round at Pittodrie tonight.
McInnes has ambitions to lead his club into the group matches, but knows the size of the task facing his players.
The Aberdeen manager said: “Winning a cup could be, not easier, but more achievable than qualifying for the group stages.
“I would rate us qualifying for the group stages as a significant achievement and that’s what we’re trying to do.
“To play eight games to get to the group stages is a challenge and we view it like a domestic cup competition.
“Even if we get through the three rounds we would have to play a side that dropped out from the Champions League games so it is tough.
“But we are where we are and can’t complain about it.
“Until we start making inroads into group stages, ourselves and others, then we have to deal with it.”
The Dons have become used to an early start to their season in their third European campaign in a row.
McInnes knows his side is expected to beat Esch comfortably across the two legs but is refusing to be complacent.
He said: “When you see result such as Iceland beating England in Euro 2016 and the improvement of a lot of national teams it shows we can’t take anyone lightly.
“What you have seen at the Euros is some of the bigger nations’ flair players not turning up and they’ve gone out.
“If those players haven’t played to their level they’ve become vulnerable.
“We have been drawn against teams in the past that have not been ones you have heard of but when you dig deeper you see the improvement, the quality and the finances.
“We have never been guilty of complacency here, we have always been respectful to opponents.”
McInnes spent yesterday ensuring his players were well versed in their opponents at Pittodrie tonight, but has told his players to focus on their own game rather than concern themselves with the opposition.
He said: “We look at areas where we can hurt them but regardless of who we are playing we always prepare the same way.
“The players need to be aware of that and will be well aware of their direct opponent.”
