Thelin asks Aberdeen to ‘drop egos’ after another dismal defeat

After a run of eight games unbeaten, which included a narrow win over league leaders Hearts, it seemed a corner had been turned at Pittodrie.

Now, Aberdeen have turned another corner, and another, and ended up back where they were at the start of the season.

“I won’t talk so much about the game, more about ourselves,” was how he started his interview with BBC Scotland.

“Football is much more than technique and systems. It’s more about how you act on the football pitch. I have to say, and I don’t like to say it, but Falkirk had this desire to win a football game.

“We have to change that as quick as possible. It’s more about responsibility. I’ve been there before and then we bounced back, and now we’re back some steps again.

“Even if we don’t have a perfect game or not win a game, they should always feel that we give everything. Right now, we can’t give them that and that’s not good enough.”

Thelin has dug the players out previously, namely during the 14-game winless run last season that ended their title tilt prematurely and saw them ultimately surrender third place to finish fifth.

“Of course, I’m the manager and responsible, but also sometimes the players have to look at themselves in the mirror and see what football is more about.

“The problem is how we lose these games. Right now we have to drop our egos and play much, much better as a team spirit, as a team-mate and who you’re actually playing for, and the fans who travel and the club. We have to do much better.”