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Jim Bett doesn’t think chaos of Aberdeen’s Premiership start will affect outcome of tonight’s Europa League clash with Runavik

Jim Bett.
Jim Bett.

Pittodrie legend Jim Bett is confident Aberdeen’s chaotic Premiership start will not result in a shock European exit.

The Dons were scheduled to play five Premiership matches before opening their Europa League campaign.

However, they have played only three games after coronavirus protocol breaches resulted in the postponement of games against Celtic, Hamilton and St Johnstone.

In contrast opponents NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands are 17 games into their league campaign.

Manager Derek McInnes’s plans were also rocked by the absence of eight players from training for an extended period.

Aberdeen have rallied with back-to-back victories against Livingston and St Johnstone.

Despite the troubled start to the campaign Bett believes the Dons will be too strong for the Faroe Island minnows.

He said: “Having all those games postponed was not ideal preparation for a European tie that is decided on the night.

“This is an absolutely huge game for Aberdeen as one of their aims this season is to progress in the Europa League. You want to go into a game like that with the players all having full match sharpness, especially as the Faroe Islands league has been up and running for a while now.

“The NSI Runavik players will all be fully match fit and ready for this game.

“The fact the tie is a one-off leg also makes it more tricky as ultimately both teams have to go for it.

“Although their preparation could have been better, Aberdeen should progress from this tie.”

This is the seventh consecutive season Aberdeen have qualified for Europe under the guidance of McInnes but have failed to make the group stages in the previous six attempts.

Club legend Bett, a former Scotland international, reckons the Dons need to reach the groups for the cash bonanza that will bring.

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack confirmed the Reds faced a ÂŁ10 million loss due to the pandemic. That has been reduced to ÂŁ3.8m due to fresh investment, wage cuts, deferrals and season ticket sales in excess of 7,500.

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has laid bare the financial impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

Qualification for the group stages brings more than £2.5m in prize money with £515,000 for a win in the group and £170,000 for a draw. Bett said: “The group stages is where Aberdeen want to be because that is where you make your cash. Making the groups would be great for the players and exciting for supporters as they would be guaranteed a certain amount of games.”

Aberdeen have four rounds to negotiate to reach the group stages. However, this season each qualifying round is only one-legged in a bid by UEFA to prevent fixture congestion following football’s shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bett said: “Aberdeen would have to play just four games to get to the group stages, but in these European one-legged ties anything can happen.

“Home advantage could work the other way as their opponent will have nothing to lose.

“However, I still see Aberdeen going through.”