Mark Reynolds knows there can be no excuses from the Dons.
Aberdeen complete their trip to Dubai with a match against Uzbek club Bunyodkor on Sunday before returning to domestic play next Saturday with a Scottish Cup tie against Stranraer.
The 29-year-old has relished his time in the Emirates but knows there must be a payback from the players.
The former Motherwell and Sheffield Wednesday player said: “Here we are, in the middle of the desert, and we are training on lush, green parks which are perfect.
“Because we have come back so early for European football this break has come at the perfect time.
“The big teams come here and it costs a lot of money so a big thanks to Saltire for funding most of the trip and it’s great we have got a sponsor willing to go the extra mile to make sure they are giving us the very best.
“We can have no complaints, this is one of the best places in the world to come and we have to make the most of it in the second half of the season.”
The club’s new training complex is also another significant talking point this week and Reynolds knows the importance of having a place to call home.
He added: “Things could not be better for us. And with the club talking about the new training complex, it is a huge thing for us. For the players having our training ground would mean players could turn up an hour earlier and spend some time working on skills, free kicks or passing.
“At the moment we are travelling in and leaving at the same time and we are maybe missing 10 hours of individual training which over the course of the season is a massive disadvantage for us, especially for the younger players.
“With the weather being like it is in Aberdeen we are chasing around looking for places to train in the winter as most of the indoor facilities are already booked.
“The club is doing everything it can to get that right.
“It is also a massive draw for players. The manager has used to loan market very well with players from down south and the new complex would be a great selling point for him. What we have at the moment, travelling to different places is a big negative.”
Finishing best of the rest and a place in the Scottish Cup final are top of the wishlist for the remainder of the campaign and Reynolds added: “We knew the league was going to be tougher this year with Rangers in it and Celtic are a lot stronger. We started last season very well but Celtic just went hit for hit for us, that’s what they do and they have done it again this season.
“We would like to be closer to Celtic, but we are still in among things in the chase for second spot. We know there is a lot more to come from us.
“We all want to be players who have medals to show at the end of our careers. We want to be challenging for honours and we have come a long way.
“Scottish Cup or second place in the league? I’d take them both thanks. It’s hard to choose one but the way the league structure is I’d take the cup and finishing third because we would still qualify for the league although finishing second shows the consistency of a club.
“We want to prove we are the best of the rest. Celtic have blown the rest of the league away in the first half of the season and we want that second place.
“To get another trophy would show this is a good time for the club and a good group of players.”
Midfielder Jonny Hayes’ future remains in doubt with Cardiff City yet to make a second bid after a 500,000 offer was turned down and Reynolds added: “Our players are going to attract interest given what we have achieved, it is inevitable clubs are going to come in for our players.”