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Mats Knoester has admitted that Aberdeen owe the travelling Red Army a Europa League performance in Cyprus. The Dons are still reeling from their 6-0 thumping away to AEK Athens last time out. Knoester knows the team let themselves and their fans down and they want to give them some payback by shocking shock league leaders AEK Larnaca. The centre half acknowledged: “We owe the supporters after the last game, we owe them a better performance. “We owe the fans but also ourselves because it wasn’t like us. “We can do way better if you look at our team and our quality. “So I definitely think we owe them something. “This is an opportunity to show ourselves in a good way, everyone feels the same. “The last game wasn’t something to look at in a positive way. “We want to do better tomorrow.” The former Feyenoord player also thinks Aberdeen have shown improvements domestically. They have kept three clean sheets in the last four and if they could transfer that to Europe then it would give them a fighting chance. The Dons defender insisted: “I don’t see a reason why we can’t get a result, if we learn from last time and do things better. “Against Kilmarnock we showed we’re a totally different team. “Of course it’s different and this is a new game, but in terms of mentality it was a much better example of how to live a game. “We have shown after a few hits that we can come back as a team, stay together and get a result. “So we have definitely shown positive things in that - but that’s not a guarantee for tomorrow or what’s coming next. “We have to do the same again and again, but I believe if we get the right rhythm we can get some good results.” Aberdeen have still to pick up a point but the Dutch defender, like his manager Jimmy Thelin, is confident they can get going and qualifying from the Conference League group section. He accepts to do that they will need to take something back from the AEK Arena. Knoester said: “Do I still believe we can qualify? Yes. “If we win it would be a big step in the right direction. “Larnaca have done a great job so far in their two games but this is a game by itself. “There has been some unexpected results, maybe our loss in Athens was also bigger than expected. “Their win was, so it doesn’t say anything about this week.” The 26-year-old knows Aberdeen need to learn lessons from their last game in Athens. Knoester admitted: “We had things to discuss after the game in Athens, like how we gave the game away very fast. “We gave them all the time and space they wanted, we made them look very good. “We have to learn and hopefully have learned - we have to come up with a better fight. “We have to keep the team together on the pitch - literally, by being better structured. “Don’t give them time and space on the ball, that is where it all starts. “Personally, I don’t like to get too emotional with these things because it takes you off your goals. “So I don’t get very emotional about things, but, of course, I want to show a better Aberdeen than we did the last time. “ The Dutchman has some big European experience of his own from his time with Ferencvaros. The Dons will rely heavily on that. His highlight was an away win in the Europa League to Monaco. He struck it rich that night and hopes the Dons can also now cash-in in Cyprus. He added: “Does my experience help in these big games? Hopefully. “In Europe it’s always difficult because you play against teams from different countries with a different football culture. “So you have to approach it differently, so, of course, I hope I can help with that. “At Ferencvaros, we beat Monaco and that was a big one. “Not only away but at home against Red Star, that was a very, very big one. “That wasn’t in qualification, that was my first game against Slovan Bratislava - we won 4-1. “Those were big experiences in the Champions League qualifiers.” It is expected to be a hostile atmosphere in Larnaca tomorrow night. The Dons found Apollon Limassol back in 2017, when they went and narrowly went out in the Europa League, under Derek McInnes. It is expected to be hot on and off the park but it isn’t something that will faze Knoester. He coolly claimed: “Coming here, personally, I blank out the atmosphere. “You are in the wrong job if you can’t handle the atmosphere. “You have to enjoy it but as soon as the game starts you also have to block it out.” The Dons welcome back Emmanuel Gyamfi, who is fit enough to play part of the game but Ante Palavera, Alfie Dorrington and Sivert Nilsen miss out. Thelin confirmed: “I expect maybe at least Sivert and Ante are available after the international break. “Alfie's a bit longer - three to four weeks, something like that. “He felt something after the Hibs game, so it's better the medical staff explain it, but it's three to four weeks.” Larnaca boss Imanol Idiakez meanwhile has claimed Aberdeen are favourites going into the game.
