Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has explained the sales of Kjartan Mar Kjartansson and Dimitar Mitov, saying he only wants players who are 100% committed to the club.
Why the Dons sanctioned the exits
Scottish Cup hero Mitov told Robinson at the end of the season that he wanted to consider his options over the summer, which led to his £450,000 move to St Pauli earlier this week. Midfielder Kjartansson also made a six-figure switch to SK Brann after telling Robinson as soon as he took the Pittodrie post last season that he wanted to leave.
Robinson stated: "I want hungry players. I want players that have got absolute drive to be here, run through brick walls for Aberdeen Football Club and when somebody makes it clear they don't want to be here, I think you have to look at the best solution."
He added: "He (Kjartan) thought he was coming to play and he didn't get that under numerous managers. So when I came in, him and his representatives made it clear that they wanted to leave. They wanted to look at options elsewhere and this option came up. You have to have honest conversations, hard, frank conversations. And once I was made aware of that, I take that above me and then we see what's out there but it was on our terms as well."
Business and pathway benefits
Robinson described the Kjartansson sale as "very good business" for someone who had started three league games under numerous managers. He noted that Lutz had done "tremendous business" and protected the club should the player develop into the player he has the potential to be.
The move also unblocks a pathway for younger midfielders with "great, great potential" who are already involved with the first team. Robinson said: "And it gets a connection with fans. Homegrown players get a connection with fans and I have done that at every club and we intend to do that here as well."
Aberdeen moved to bring in Marius Muller, knowing that Mitov was likely to depart. Robinson said: "I had a fantastic relationship with Dimi. He was brilliant for me when I came in last year, he led the dressing room, he's been highly successful at the football club. But again Dimi wanted to look at options abroad. And when the German option came up, and it has been floating about for a little while, we brought Marius in as preparation. For that and I think we're in a good situation to do it, otherwise we might have been under pressure. Dimi's been a very good servant of the football club and he's got a fantastic move as well. So we thank him for his services and as I say, he's been great with me, great in the dressing room for me and we wish him nothing but success."
Reaction needed after Dundee defeat
Robinson acknowledged his team were well off it against Dundee in the Premiership and must react in the Premier Sports Cup against the same opposition at Pittodrie. He admitted: "These bumps in the road are something we've factored in when you make that many changes, everything was going very well. Five wins in a row, you beat Hearts. You were always going to expect this here and we have to deal with that. If it had been we beat Dundee and lost to Hearts, then everyone would have had a great start, a super start. It's still a very good start and it will be a different game from our perspective. We have to take the game a lot more to them. We have to press better than what we did and we have to retain the ball better than what we did."
Robinson won the competition with St Mirren last season and wants to retain it as Aberdeen manager. He joked he doesn't even know where his winner's medal is, saying: "Good question. I've no idea since I moved here, I'd better ask my wife though, I don't know! In a box somewhere! I had planned to get it all put up in my garage and then I came here and everything got put in a box so it's in a box somewhere. I think you look at medals and what you've achieved at the end of your career and I don't think I'm quite finished yet, hopefully. It's only a rented house so we're not allowed to drill holes in the rental property yet!"
Ntelo available and Lyons injury update
New signing Mitchy Ntelo is available to make his debut, adding pace, versatility and goals. Robinson confirmed: "He can play in all three of the positions up front. Wide in the right, he's played a scored a lot of goals on the right-hand side as well coming in on his left foot. He's quick and strong through the middle as well so that just depends where we see fit in certain games against certain opposition or it gives us another option from the bench or from the start. It just gives us live options but when you're looking around, you can change the game. We have got boys in that forward area we believe can come and impact the game."
Connor Ronan returns but Brad Lyons remains sidelined with a knee injury, with the full extent expected to be known next week. Robinson confirmed: "Lyons - It's a knee injury. I haven't got too much more details about it. We'll probably be a little bit more clear on the situation on Monday or Tuesday. Connor should be fit for tomorrow. He'll train today."
