Jimmy Thelin, Jim Goodwin and Stephen Robinson are vying for the remaining European qualification spots
Clive Lindsay and David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland
Mention Europe when the sun is out at this time of year and most people’s thoughts turn to Greek or Spanish beaches.
But, for Aberdeen, Dundee United and St Mirren, Saturday’s final round of Scottish Premiership fixtures bring the prospect of continental work opportunities next season.
Either United or the Buddies will miss out altogether and, while the Dons are assured of some kind of European football, Saturday’s results – together with the Scottish Cup final – will decide whether it is in the Europa League or Conference League and at what stage.
For the complicated permutations involved, you can read our detailed explanation.
But what are the three managers thinking ahead of a potentially decisive climax to the league season?
Dons have ‘achieved our goal’
Jimmy Thelin needs just a draw away to United to end his first season as Aberdeen manager with a fourth-placed finish and a place in Europa League qualifying.
The Swede’s side have lost nine goals – and scored only one – in successive heavy defeats by Rangers and Celtic.
However, he points out that those are the top two teams in the league and that there is no need to remind the players about the game’s importance – not only in terms of the league finish but also in playing for places in next weekend’s Scottish Cup final against Celtic.
Thelin expects an “exciting game” given what is at stake but points out that “it is the first year of a three-year project” at Pittodrie.
“We are in the top six again,” he said. “Our goal was Europe and we have achieved that goal.
“The players have pushed themselves from a really difficult season last season into a final, a semi-final and now we have the chance to finish fourth in the league.
“I think that, overall, is a good performance.”
‘Tomorrow is everything’ for United
Jim Goodwin is looking to thwart two of the clubs he previously managed – and avoid being disappointed by them – as his United side visit Aberdeen.
The Irishman is also looking to qualify for Europe for the first time as a manager but insists he is “not bogged down” in thoughts of any personal achievement – only that United will have proven they have “collectively come a long way in two years”.
Goodwin led United to the Championship title and promotion a year ago and admits: “I wouldn’t have believed you had you told me way back in August that we’d be sitting in this situation with 90 minutes to play and, if we win, we’ll finish fourth in the league.
“Most people would have had us down as being in a relegation battle.”
Goodwin is aware that fourth place could make a big difference to his playing budget next season.
“It is an opportunity to finish above one of the big spenders in the league when you consider what Aberdeen did in January,” he pointed out.
“I think they spent in excess of 2.5m on players and, for us, who have not spent a penny, to finish above them would be a fantastic achievement.
“Fourth place guarantees Europa or Conference League football and that’s good prize money for that.”
United, though, head to Pittodrie having lost all four of their matches since the Premiership split.
“Neither Aberdeen or ourselves are in a great run of form going into it, but I think that goes out the window tomorrow,” he said. “We want to finish on a high because the last four results have been hugely disappointing.
“Tomorrow is everything for us. It could be the defining moment in a fantastic season for us.”
‘Not an impossible task’ for Buddies
Stephen Robinson says leading St Mirren to European qualification would be the greatest achievement in his managerial career so far.
St Mirren, one point behind United, will leapfrog the Tannadice side into fourth if they better their rivals’ result on Saturday – the only problem being they are away to Celtic on the day the champions collect the Premiership trophy.
However, Robinson insists: “It’s certainly not an impossible task. We’ve taken the whole European pressure off the players and said, ‘let’s remain unbeaten in the top six’.
“For St Mirren to be unbeaten in the top six would be an incredible achievement.”
The Paisley side have beaten United and Aberdeen while drawing with Rangers and Hibernian in their post-split fixtures, but Robinson recognises getting a result at Celtic Park is the hardest challenge.
“That is our first and foremost goal,” the Northern Irishman said. “If we do that, it might be enough. We can’t affect what happens at Dundee United and Aberdeen.
“It’ll be 100 degrees inside Celtic Park and their fans will be there to celebrate. So it’s our job to try and put a little bit of a dampener on them.”
While the Buddies qualified for Europe last season, for the first time in 37 years, Robinson said reaching the top six this season has come despite facing challenges “you probably don’t get when you manage for 30 years”.
Three new signings Kevin van Veen, Shaun Rooney and Jaden Brown – left the club amid separate court cases, making his job “un-enjoyable at times”.
“We got a bit of stick for celebrating reaching the top six,” Robinson added. “That was a relief on my part because we weren’t in a relegation battle.
“Being in this division is a huge success for St Mirren. Being in the top six is a brilliant achievement.
“Being in Europe is something that happens once in a lifetime for most St Mirren fans. If we can do that twice in consecutive years then that would be a super achievement.”
