McInnes: Dons can compete against Socediad
- adamhigginsuk
- Jul 30, 2014
- 2 min read
Optimistic: McInnes believes his side are capable of reaching a high performance level (Picture from Getty Images)
ABERDEEN are confident of producing a positive result against Real Socediad, according to boss Derek McInnes.
The Dons face the Spanish side in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie at San Sebastian on Thursday.
Left-back Clark Robertson was the only absentee for the Scottish Premiership side from Wednesday's training session at the Anoeta Stadium.
Socediad reached the Champions League group stages last season, where they claimed just a solitary point, but McInnes said: "Obviously Real Sociedad is a strong name in European football and I think, like many, La Liga is seen as the strongest league in Europe.
"We are delighted to be playing against them."
Aberdeen have already negotiated two qualifying rounds, thrashing Latvian side Daugava Riga 8-0 on aggregate before edging past Dutch outfit FC Groningen with an impressive 2-1 away win after a goalless draw at Pittodrie.
And McInnes acknowledges the advantage the Dons will have from those four competitive fixtures against Socediad, who are entering the competition for the first time and have played only a handful of friendlies so far.
"We want to do as best we can. We feel we as a team are in a good place just now and take the confidence from the start we have had to our season," he said.
"From our point of view we would rather go into a game of such importance having played competitive games and obviously we have that over Real Sociedad.
"But, we understand the level of opponent we are up against so while we might be ahead in physical condition I still think it is a very difficult game for us."
McInnes admitted he is more comfortable with the shape of his squad now compared to the start of the month when his side were preparing for their first match against Riga.
"When we played Daugava Riga in the first tie they were halfway through their season and my biggest worry is we wouldn't be ready after three pre-season games," he explained.
"That disadvantage we had there is our advantage at the minute, and I need to say that's important, but what can't be dismissed is they are good players and good players normally have that competitive edge.
"They [Socediad] will be ready to play us, certainly tactically, but from a physical point of view my players are ahead of them in terms of fitness."
Meanwhile, Real Socediad manager Jagoba Arraste admits his team will not be at full strength - the £24 million sale of prolific French winger Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid already a huge blow - but accepted the situation he is faced with.
"Of course we are not at 100% - that's normal at this stage of the season. But we are in condition to compete," Arraste said.
"We have a couple of players out injured and others who are not available but that's just the way it is."
Last updated: 30 July 2014 15:34pm
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