Mats Knoester urges ‘childish’ Aberdeen to learn from AEK Athens hammering

Mats Knoester conceded “childish” Aberdeen need to learn lessons quickly after “too many things went completely wrong” in their AEK Athens debacle.

The Dons suffered their biggest-ever European defeat as they capitulated to a 6-0 Conference League drubbing in the Greek capital which left them rock bottom of the 36-team table with no points and a goal difference of minus seven.

AEK were three up within 27 minutes before adding three more after the break, and the dominant hosts spurned several additional big chances to make the scoreline even more emphatic.

“Big lesson, big defeat,” defender Knoester said in a club interview. “In a lot of aspects not good enough so it’s hard to take out one thing because it was too many things that went completely wrong.

“I think we allowed too easily to give them the chances and give them the free shots on the edge of the box, give them transition. In that way, we need to be less childish and be prepared for that on the pitch.

“Not only talk about it before, but on the pitch, actually do the things that are needed against a team like that who is individually better.”

Aberdeen were ruthlessly punished for turning the ball over too easily when getting into promising positions themselves, and Knoester admits they need to become more streetwise.

“Of course it’s very weird to say after a defeat like that but in the beginning there were a few good attacks from us,” said Knoester. “We break out and as soon as we broke one line, it was quite open.

“We could come to the edge of their box and take a shot, but then, for example, one of the shots became a transition and we get beat.

“At this level, if you give away those spaces and those chances, it means goals against. Absolutely, some of their goals were our own fault and our own downfall.

“You have to make sure you finish the attack or you have to take out the transition high up on the pitch, it goes out of play or something like that, some decision-making.”

Aberdeen had won their previous two matches in the William Hill Premiership after a poor start to the campaign, and Knoester warned they must ensure their chastening night in Athens does not send them back into a tailspin.

“Always in football when things like this happen, there’s no point in digging yourself deeper,” he said. “You have to try and take a lesson, like we already did before.

“Be hard on ourselves with each other, but then also stay together and move on and grow. If you respond on Sunday (against Hibernian), it doesn’t take away the defeat but it takes away the bad momentum.”