Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin reacts to costly penalty and red card as Europa League dream ends with 3-0 loss to FCSB in Romania.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin responds to FCSB’s contentious penalty and Alexander Jensen’s dismissal, which ended their Europa League dream, and also discusses his interest in signing winger Shayden Morris.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin believes his team must learn from their loss in Romania to win in the Conference League.

The Reds’ Europa League dream came to an end as they lost the play-off second leg 3-0 to FCSB in Bucharest, leaving them trailing 5-2 on aggregate.

Thelin also confesses that his rebuilt team, which made nine new acquisitions this summer, is not yet ready for Europa League participation.

Aberdeen’s Europa League fantasy turned into a nightmare around halftime when they were down a man and a goal after a dubious penalty award.

Alexander Jensen was sent off for a second yellow card, and a penalty kick was awarded when a VAR review determined that the full-back had handled the ball. The ball scuffed the defender’s arm, which was in a natural position at close range.

Darius Olaru converted the spot kick, much to the dismay of the Scottish Cup winners.

FCSB, Romanian champions, piled on the misery for the nearly 1,000 visiting Dons fans at the National Arena with second-half goals from Adrian Sut and Olaru.

However, Thelin believes the setback demonstrated that his new-look club needs to improve for the six Conference League games.

Thelin stated, “The best way is to be in Europe and learn from it; this is how you grow as a team.” “Everyone, even myself and my staff, can explain how we can improve; that’s what we’ll show in the upcoming games.

“We can’t do the same things.

“We always want to prove ourselves in this moment (Europa League), but we weren’t really prepared. “So, we need to improve in the Conference League.

“We need to grow and improve. “The only way to improve as a team is to be here in Europe and find peace as a group. “That’s why before the penalty I was quite happy, I saw a more mature team.”

The penalty judgement crushed Aberdeen’s hopes of making history by entering the Europa League league phase for the first time.

The £1million blow to Aberdeen

It is a costly decision, since the cash difference between qualifying for the Europa League and descending to the Conference League is £1 million.

Aberdeen has the safety net of sliding into the Conference League, which guarantees six league games, but this will provide little comfort to the Dons.

Thelin said of the penalty: “I haven’t seen it back, but I was told it was a tough one.” “It wasn’t an excuse, but it changed the game. “We started the game strongly, and both games have been close at 11 v 11.

“The penalty is a tough one, and we attempted to balance the team to give ourselves a chance. “They scored two goals in five minutes then it is over.”

When asked how full-back Jensen is doing following his dismissal, Thelin responded, “We are a team, and it was a tough one. “We always support each other and are together.”

Thelin explains absence of Morris

Winger Shayden Morris was granted permission to return to the United Kingdom before kickoff, as signing interest in the 23-year-old increased.

Morris missed the first leg owing to a hamstring injury, but flew to Romania with the team. Luton Town, a League One club, had two bids for Morris rejected by the Dons earlier this summer transfer window, the second for £600,000.

Luton has renewed their interest. Thelin stated: “Shayden was allowed to travel since there was a lot of interest in him late last night (Wednesday).

“I had a terrific conversation with him, and we discussed the distraction of his circumstances. “And we decided together that he’s better outside the squad.”

Costly penalty decision derails Dons

FCSB believed they had a penalty call in the 40th minute when David Miculescu went down following a challenge by Knoester, but referee Espen Eskas waived play on.

However, within a minute, Jensen awarded the Romanians a penalty for handball.

Jensen, who had already been booked in the 22nd minute, was given a second yellow card, and Olaru converted from the penalty spot.

Sut blasted a magnificent 20-yard drive in the 52nd minute, putting the Dons 2-0 down. Olaru scored 3-0 in the 59th minute with a low effort from the edge of the area.

Thelin elaborated: “We were more balanced and controlled, but after that penalty things accelerated in the wrong direction for us.” “The difference between the games was that when we made mistakes, they punished us severely, whereas when they made mistakes, we did not punish them.”

“They took advantage of their opportunities with calm and quality, whilst we had openings but were unable to capitalise on them. “They did better in the critical moments, they scored and we didn’t when we had our moments.”

FCSB coach Elias Charalambous admits the penalty motivated his team. Charalambous stated, “Until we scored the penalty, the game was level. “After scoring the penalty, we played more freely and with confidence.

“This is a significant accomplishment for our players, club, and fans.” “We are proud.” Aberdeen (4-2-3-1): Mitov 6; Devlin 5, Milne 6, Knoester 5 (Dorrington 74), Jensen 4; Palaversa 5 (Yengi 66), Shinnie 6; Keskinen 5 (Milanovic 66), Aouchiche 6, Polvara 5 (Heltne Nilsen 46); Sokler 5 (Clarkson 46). Subs not used: Suman, Vitols, Bilalovic, Boyd, Molloy, Lobban. FCSB (4-2-3-1): Tarnovanu 6; Cretu 6; Ngezana 6; M. Popescu 6; Radunovic 6; Lixandru 7; Sut 7 (Chirches 89). Miculescu 6 (O.Popescu 88), Olaru 7 (Alhassan 79), Tanase 6 (Politic 82), Birligea 7 (Aibec 89).

Subs not used: Udrea, Zima, Graovac, Kiki, Edjouma,  Pantea,

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