Is Aberdeen’s proud top flight record under threat?
FotMob - March 28, 2024, 11:38 AM
Neil Warnock, in his own words, took the Aberdeen job to have “a little bit of fun.” Quickly, though, the smile was wiped from the 75-year-old’s face as the Dons sunk towards the foot of the Scottish Premiership table. Warnock lasted just 33 days – and eight matches – at Pittodrie, but Aberdeen still face a fight against relegation. Nobody at the club is having any fun.
By Graham Ruthven
With eight games of the season left, Aberdeen are just three points above the relegation playoff place. The picture was even bleaker before the away victory over Motherwell which ended a run of 11 matches without a win, but even that performance hinted at the problems afflicting the Dons this season.


Aberdeen have never been relegated in their 120-year history. They are widely considered Scottish football’s third force. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Pittodrie club won league titles and cups and famously beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup in a triumph that is still rightfully glorified to this day.

The prospect of a club of Aberdeen’s size and stature playing in the Scottish Championship next season is almost unfathomable, but this is the direction they are heading in. The Dons have eight games to save their season and avoid the biggest humiliation in the club’s long and storied history.

On paper, Aberdeen boast one of the strongest squads in the Scottish Premiership. Only Lawrence Shankland and James Tavernier have scored more league goals this season than Bojan Miovski. Indeed, the North Macedonian international is a top-quality centre forward who will surely play at a higher level in the coming years.


Jamie McGrath is a Republic of Ireland international who earned himself a reputation as one of the best central midfielders in Scotland during successful spells at Dundee United and St Mirren. Even as Aberdeen have struggled badly this season, there have been glimpses of McGrath’s ability – McGrath is Aberdeen’s second-top scorer with nine goals.

Leighton Clarkson is another talented Aberdeen midfielder who was signed permanently from Liverpool last summer after catching the eye on loan at Pittodrie. Then there’s Graeme Shinnie, an experienced operator at the base of the Aberdeen midfield unit, and Connor Barron, a promising Scotland Under-21 international with a bright future ahead of him.

Centre back Slobodan Rubežić is a Montenegro international who was linked with Tottenham Hotspur not so long ago while Stefan Gartenmann and Angus MacDonald both have defensive pedigree too. From front to back, Aberdeen have talented individuals, but their results this season don’t reflect this.


US-based businessman Dave Cormack has invested heavily in Aberdeen since becoming chairman in 2019, but he has communicated a clear vision for the team on the pitch. Initially, Cormack wanted Aberdeen to play a brand of modern, possession-based football, hiring Stephen Glass despite the former Dons midfielder lacking any senior management experience.

When Glass faltered, Cormack hired Jim Goodwin, a conservative coach known for his stodgy, defence-minded style of play. Goodwin, however, lasted less than a year at Pittodrie and was replaced by another rookie, Barry Robson, who was handed the job permanently after a short interim spell.

Then came the experienced Warnock as interim boss who arrived in Scotland without any apparent knowledge of the game north of the border. He continually experimented with his lineup when Aberdeen needed an immediate bounce and points on the board. When Warnock resigned, he implied he was stepping aside to make way for a permanent appointment. More than a fortnight later, though, Aberdeen still haven’t hired anyone. Fans are understandably confused.

Managerial whiplash over the last three seasons has given Aberdeen an identity crisis. Defensively, they are vulnerable. As an attacking outfit, they are anaemic. Money has been spent in the transfer market, but there is no strategy underpinning this investment. As a team, Aberdeen don’t stand for anything.

There’s still time for Aberdeen to arrest their slide towards the second tier. Their next two fixtures are against 11th place Ross County and 12th place Livingston. Six points from those two games would significantly alleviate the threat of relegation. Even if Aberdeen stay in the Scottish Premiership, though, they have bigger issues to solve.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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FC Barcelona
Xavi to be offered new role to stay at Barcelona - report
Barcelona could offer Xavi a new role to stay with the club
The head coach plans to leave his position at the end of the season
The club have been tipped to offer him an ambassador role at Barca Foundation
By Katie Catherall
2:40 PM GMT
Xavi could remain at Barca
Xavi could remain at Barca / Pedro Salado/GettyImages
Barcelona could offer Xavi the chance to move into an ambassador role with the Barca Foundation at the end of the season in order to keep him at the club, a report has claimed.

Xavi announced his plans earlier this year to leave his position as manager at the end of the season. Since his announcement, Barcelona have seen a rapid upturn in form and there have been plenty of calls for Xavi to stay in his post, but the boss has so far stuck to his word.

However, according to Catalunya Radio, Xavi could still remain at the club if he accepts the offer to become an ambassador of the Barca Foundation.

The Spanish club have been quick to prove how much he means to them and they hope to keep Xavi's association with Barcelona alive in a new role.

Their plan would ensure Xavi doesn't leave altogether, and instead give him the opportunity to represent the club in an alternative way.

Xavi
Xavi could remain at Barcelona / Diego Souto/GettyImages
The report claims the move could be made official before the end of the season, and Barca are confident that he will remain involved with the club.

His new role would be away from the sporting side of things, however, and instead focused on institutional work. The foundation has boasted some big names of late. Currently Ronald Araujo and Mapi Leon are ambassadors, after taking over from Gerard Pique, Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Sergi Roberto.

Another report recently revealed three ways that Xavi could stay as manager after the season ends: If Barca seriously contend for the Champions League, if a clearly defined transfer strategy is put in place and if the club specifically ask him to change his mind.

Now, it looks like their could be a fourth way to keep him with the Spanish giants.

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Mauricio Pochettino surprised Ben Chilwell started England games after injury

Mauricio Pochettino admitted he was surprised Ben Chilwell started two games for England during the international break, having only recently returned from a knee injury.

The defender last started for Chelsea on March 2 against Brentford and since then has played just a few minutes for the club, as a late substitute in the FA Cup against Leicester.

Yet he played the entirety of England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium on Tuesday, three days after completing 67 minutes against Brazil.

The Argentinian is no closer to seeing the end of his team’s injury crisis with nine players currently ruled out of Saturday’s meeting with Burnley at Stamford Bridge.

More squad members will be assessed after returning from international duty, including Chilwell, who took a knock to his knee against Belgium.

“He didn’t play after Brentford, then he played only a few minutes against Leicester,” said Pochettino. “(Then) he started two games (for England).

“It’s a surprise for us. It’s bad luck because he got a dead leg in the last moment against Belgium. Now we need to assess if he can be available.”

Enzo Fernandez was set to return to the club’s Cobham training base on Thursday afternoon after playing twice for Argentina in the United States during the break, and is another player whose fitness will be checked on.

Three names unlikely to feature on Saturday however are Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka, the latter after returning injured from duty with England Under-21s.

The club confirmed this week that Romeo Lavia would be out for the rest of the season.

The summer signing from Southampton has played just 32 minutes for the first team since arriving in west London for £58million and has suffered a series of setbacks.

“It’s a difficult situation for him,” said Pochettino. “He’s sad. He only played 30 minutes, for a new player at the club.

“When we signed him, he arrived with problems. He couldn’t train with us for the first months. Then when he was ready he suffered a problem in his feet.

“He recovered, he played 30 minutes then got injured in December. Then he didn’t have the possibility to train. It’s really sad news.”

However, top scorer Cole Palmer is likely to be available to face Burnley, having not featured in either of England’s games during the last week.

The 21-year-old was injured for the Brazil game and was an unused substitute against Belgium.

“I talked with him,” said Pochettino. “He’s a little bit disappointed because he couldn’t play with the national team.

“The first game he had a small problem. He thought maybe he’d play the second game.

“Now he’s OK, is training well. The plan is he will be available for Saturday.”