Barry Robson has hailed Steve Agnew’s impact at Aberdeen after the former Middlesbrough coach answered the Dons interim manager’s call for help.
Robson turned to Agnew, who he worked under at Boro, for assistance after being asked to take charge of first team affairs following Jim Goodwin’s dismissal in January.
The Dons have won three of their five matches under the caretaker coaching team which also includes Robson’s youth coach assistant Scott Anderson.
‘He’s a football man through and through’
Robson has been credited with getting Aberdeen’s season back on track but the interim boss is not surprised the players has responded to Agnew’s approach.
He said: “Players enjoy working with him and listening to him. He’s a football man through and through who loves the game.
“He always wants to make people better and it’s never about him. It’s always about ‘how can we make this player better?’ ‘How can we do this or that?’
“It’s his mannerism and the way he is. I’ve spoken about the coaching and tactical side of it before.
“I met him when I was a Middlesbrough years ago and enjoyed his sessions.
“I loved working with him and stole a lot of his sessions from back in the day and tried to improve them.
“He’s been very good for the football club in terms of the staff.
“He’s a really experienced guy and a proper football man. His attention to detail is first class.”
Agnew revelling in new challenge in Scottish football
Working with Robson has been Agnew’s first experience in Scottish football and the Aberdeen interim manager insists his colleague is revelling in the atmosphere generated in the Premiership.
The Dons caretaker highlighted the vibrancy of the recent New Firm derby win against Dundee United in the club’s last outing as one which made an impression on the Englishman.
Robson said: “He has loved the passion of it, he’s that type of coach.
“He loves the feeling of the Scottish game. He has enjoyed the crowd at Pittodrie and the stadiums he has went to – he really enjoyed Tannadice the other week.
“He sees the passion that exists in Scottish football and he has worked with a lot of Scottish players over the years, so he knows what we are like.
“He is here first thing every morning and he is the last away at night along with myself – because football is in his blood, no matter where he is.”
Robson pleased with intensity ahead of Hearts test
Aberdeen used their free weekend to give the first team squad some respite from the training ground.
The Dons interim boss insists the rest has been worth it following the reaction from the squad since returning to training this week to prepare for tomorrow’s game against Hearts at Pittodrie.
He said: “We gave the players a couple of days off as we have to be mindful of the stage of the season we’re at.
“Some of them have played more than 30 games and you have to get the balance right.
“Sometimes less is more so we’ve tried to be mindful of that to keep everyone fit.
“But we’ve also made sure we still get our points across in how we want to do things and the boys have been working hard with a good intensity and tempo since coming back so we’re pleased with that.”
‘The players enjoy winning games’
Saturday will be Robson’s sixth game in charge of the Dons as they chase a third win in a row which would reduce the third-placed Jambos’ lead over them to four points.
The Dons are in a confident mood as they prepare for the visit of Robbie Neilson’s side and the Aberdeen interim manager says he is relishing another opportunity to take charge of the first team.
He said: “I enjoy it and I think the players enjoy winning games.
“For me it is a case of focusing on the job and trying to win football matches. That’s what we’re ultimately paid to do.”
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