Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov: I am disappointed that we are leaving the Conference League

Already, the theoretical elimination of the Scottish Aberdeen (Scotland) in the UEFA Conference League tournament can also be viewed positively, as the “Dons“ now have to focus on the league, believes Bulgarian goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.

Aberdeen has one more match in the tournament – on Thursday as a guest of Sparta (Prague), but is only with two points and without a theoretical chance to continue, since Lincoln (Gibraltar) has 7 points in the 24th, last sending forward position.

In their previous match in the third UEFA tournament, the “Dons“ fought hard against an ambitious and financially stable Strasbourg (France) team, but had to swallow a 0-1 defeat. Aberdeen had the better chances to score before the break, but even if they missed them, Mitov told the Daily Record that this performance is a good basis for their return to the local Premier League.

The goalkeeper admitted: “I am really disappointed. I felt we had chances, especially in the first half, to win and move forward. When you play against such an opponent, a really good team, you have to take your chances. To win games, you have to score, not concede or score more goals than the opponent. They managed to take their chance, and we didn't. That's football. The main thing is that we have to be positive, but there were also a lot of good things“.

In the match in question last week, Mitov certainly played his part for his team, after making two brilliant saves from Martial Godot's shots. And then he exceeded expectations, saving a penalty taken by Ismael Doucoure in the 72nd minute.

“That's my job. When the team needs me, I have to be there because they run so much. They're going to miss chances and you need your goalkeeper to get you out. I'm glad I was able to do that, to give the team a boost and a chance to score a goal, to equalize and possibly win the game, but it wasn't meant to happen. We can't accept the negatives to follow us. We have to put them behind us and strive for victories going forward“. The first such was achieved on Sunday, albeit in a difficult way - 2:1 over Kilmarnock, who are stuck in the relegation zone, and finding good form has returned them to the top 6, which is a major task given the schedule.

Now, however, they are thinking about Sparta (Prague), where they are visiting on Thursday (December 18th) at 10:00 PM. And it is not at all clear what line-up the team's Swedish manager Jimmy Tellin will field, since three days later - on December 21st - they are facing the unusually poor state of the country's champion Celtic (Glasgow).