Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes "frustrated but proud" after defeat

Sporting Lisbon are team “with plans to win tournament” says Pittodrie manager

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Derek McInnes admitted he was frustrated after Aberdeen were eliminated from the Europa League at the third qualifying round following a narrow defeat to Sporting Lisbon.

It is the second successive season his side have fallen at this stage of the competition. An early goal from teenager Tiago Tomas was the difference between the teams in Portugal. Aberdeen’s Ryan Hedges missing a late chance to take the tie to extra-time.

McInnes was pleased at the way his players had coped against top European opposition.

“There is frustration because we didn’t win the game, but I am proud of their performance,” said the Pittodrie manager. “We put so much into the game and I thought we were close to getting an equaliser.

“I think if we’d done that it would have been merited, so naturally we are disappointed. Apart from the goal I don’t think they penetrated us, the discipline of the team was good.

“We lost the ball in our own half but the goal they scored was top class. The game was decided by a bit of real quality. But Joe (Lewis) has only had one save to make in the game, away from home to Sporting Lisbon. When you go behind at a place like this after eight minutes you sometimes fear the worst, but I thought the players responded really well.

“They showed the experience they have built up over the years. They stayed calm and you saw that in their performance. This is a team who have plans to win the tournament. They recruit at a completely different level to us.

“We went with an extra midfielder to try not to lose a goal and thought they might tire as the game went on. I felt we used our substitutes at the right time, getting Scott Wright on and the other lads - we finished the game very strongly.

“I thought the referee was a real source of frustration,” McInnes added. “We talked about that before the game and he was whistling at almost everything.

With the amount of free kicks and corners we had, we should have done better. But I am proud of the players for what they produced.”

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