Aberdeen's Jesper Karlsson refuses to panic at Pittodrie - he's seen a similar movie
Eye-catching arrival from Bologna explains why fortunes can turn for Dons
There is no panic in Jesper Karlsson’s voice as he discusses Aberdeen’s difficult start to the season.
The Dons’ lost their fourth match in a row in going down 3-2 to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League on Thursday night and are bottom of the Premiership with one point and no goals to their name. It’s a far cry from winning the Scottish Cup back in May.
Yet Karlsson has seen a movie like this before - and there was a happy ending.
The Swede joined Bologna in the summer of 2023 and his spell at the club started with three blanks against Verona, Napoli and Monza in Serie A. An inauspicious start was swiftly cast aside as I Rossoblu ended up finishing fifth in the Italian top flight and qualifying for the Champions League.
Aberdeen’s malaise certainly runs much deeper than that Bologna mini-crisis. Lifting the Scottish Cup seems like a glitch in system. The Dons have won five games out of their past 33 in the league, a dismal run under current manager Jimmy Thelin spanning all the way back to last November.
Karlsson is holding on to hope. He broke Aberdeen’s six-week scoring drought by netting a penalty against Shakhtar and fully believes fortunes will change at Pittodrie.
The Bologna experience that Karlsson is clinging on to
"It was a relief to be honest,” said Karlsson. "For us attacking players, it was frustrating because we have been creating chances. If we didn't create chances, I would be more worried. We have created chances to score but you also need to be lucky
"I was in this situation in Italy with Bologna once when I joined them. We didn't score and everyone was panicking. And then we ended up getting a Champions League spot and finishing in the top five in Serie A.
"So these are moments in football that you have to come through it and I think we will do it.
"It is a difficult situation when you don't score. But once we find our rhythm together, you start to build an understanding and maybe get some luck. Things can change in football."
For some Aberdeen fans, change can only come with a new man in the dugout. Thelin has lost a significant chunk of credit from that Scottish Cup win - albeit he appears to hold significant support from Dons chairman Dave Cormack. When the manager was appointed, there was talk of a three-year plan. Aberdeen are desperate to avoid a rinse-and-repeat scenario.
The positivity of running a very good team in Shakhtar Donetsk close needs to be harnessed when Aberdeen return to Premiership duty at home to Dundee. Starting a season badly can end well, but given the wretched results stretch back into last season, patience in the north-east is in short supply.
"We are a new team with a lot of new players that have to play more together to understand each other to make things better,” said Karlsson. "And I think it [the European display] was positive.
"Shakhtar are a good team with good players and we had to defend a lot in the first half especially. But I think we can be better in the build-up when we have the ball because we have good players.
“It was a positive experience for us, especially because of the last couple of results we have had. I think it was a step in the right direction with goals and also how we defended in the new system. It was better.”
‘We’ve had no luck on our side’
Karlsson joined Aberdeen in the final moments of transfer deadline day last month and given he commanded a transfer fee of £10 million when joining Bologna from AZ Alkmaar two years ago, the arrival of the Sweden internationalist was hailed as a significant coup.
"It has been a little bit of a surprise because of the situation we are in although I think we have been unlucky too,” said Karlsson of the run. "The ball has hit the post, bar and we have not had luck on our side.
“But that's football. I have played for many years now and I know you can get into this situation but it's all about how we react to it. So I think we can take many good things from this game.
“I understand the fans' frustrations. They want different things. But I think we have to have trust because this is only the beginning. We have a good team so I think we will turn it around."
Sunday would be a good place to start. "It's so important,” added Karlsson. "We know Dundee are a good team also and we have respect for them. But I think we should believe more that we are a good team with good players.”
The proof needs to be in the pudding.
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