Lewis Ferguson urges Aberdeen FC to grasp golden Europa League chance but warns foes have one ‘obvious advantage’

Lewis Ferguson reckons Aberdeen won’t get a better chance of making the Europa League group stage.

The Dons will face either Zalgiris Vilnius or BK Hacken in the play-off round this month. Ferguson was a European regular for the Dons under Derek McInnes and Stephen Glass but despite some glory runs never made the group stage. The Scotland star was also part of the team, who under Glass, demolished BK Hacken in the Conference League qualifiers two years ago.

Even if the Dons weren’t to progress they would have the consolation of dropping into the Conference League groups. Ferguson said: “It is a good draw for Aberdeen. I don’t think they will get a much better chance of getting into the group stage of the Europa League. It is a great chance for the team to play at that level. Before we always had to get through a few qualifiers. We ended up against the likes of Burnley, Qarabag, Rijeka and Sporting Lisbon. This is as good a chance as they might get. There is a lot of money involved for the club. It is exciting for the fans to go and get all the trips in the group stages and great for the players to be playing at that level.”

Fergie also knows the pitfalls of early European ties. Robson’s men have only had one competitive game while the Swedes and Lithuanians are past the halfway point in their leagues, where they both sit, respectively, in second place.

He knows and hopes that is where the quality of the team has to come to the fore. The Bologna star said: “I know Aberdeen won’t take BK Hacken or Vilnius lightly.

“They’ll give them the respect and know both teams are doing well in their respective leagues and aren’t in the competition to make up the numbers. BK Hacken have played 18 games and Vilnius more than 20 games.

“Aberdeen have only had one competitive game so far. They will have another couple by the time the first European tie comes along but that is where Hacken and Vilnius will have an obvious advantage.

“They are midway through their seasons, as Aberdeen are just getting started. We were in a similar situation when we played BK Hacken and then Breidablik in the next round.

“As I said, that will be to Hacken and Vilnius’ advantage but I still think Aberdeen will have enough quality to get through over the two games.”

Ferguson remembers his encounter with BK Hacken as very much a game of two differing leagues. The first was a comprehensive 5-1 win at Pittodrie, where the midfielder grabbed a brace.

He recalled: “It was one of the first games back during Covid and we beat them 5-1. Big Andy (Considine) got the first and then Ryan Hedges won us a penalty just before half-time and I converted it. That gave us a bit of comfort.

“I got the third and although they got one, Christian Ramirez and Connor McLennan got on the scoresheet. It was the first game of the season but we were really good and it was a reasonably comfortable win.

“They were a decent side and knocked the ball about well, we were just clinical on the night and that was the big difference.”

The tie might already have been over but BK Hacken were a far different proposition in Sweden. He added: “They beat us 2-0. It was a difficult place to go. It was an astro pitch and the stadium was really tight and that Hacken team played some good stuff, especially in that second game.

“Hopefully, whoever Aberdeen play they will come out on top and make the Europa League group stage.”