By
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
- Published13 minutes ago
Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Saturday's League Cup semi final withRangersat Hampden.
Here are main points from the news conference:
With his side in poor form, Robinson says he and his players "deserved the criticism" following the midweek home defeat to Falkirk, adding: "I don't hide behind that, I don't try and throw players under the bus. I deserved it and we have to respond to that."
Having won just one of their past five games, Robinson spoke with the players on Thursday and insists: "No one was hiding away from the fact results haven't been good enough Everyone is together and everyone wants to turn that around together."
With pressure mounting, Robinson says he is "not seeking any assurances" from the Pittodrie hierarchy over his future. "I just have my normal conversations which I do, I speak to the chairman once a week and I speak to Adrian (Bevington, chief executive) once a week. That is no different than any other week, so there has been nothing different."
On sympathy and backing from Rangers counterpart and former Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes, Robinson says: "I think until you are in this position you don't realise how difficult things are and the parameters you have to work under. Derek obviously does."
He adds: "I have nothing but total respect for him, he is one of the top managers in the country. So certainly everybody wants time but you don't get given time in football, we are all well aware of that and results are what dictates that."
As he looks to turn the Dons' form around, he says: "What a chance it is to go to Hampden, a full house with a big support with us as well, and it is certainly the right place to do it and we believe we can."
Robinson accepts his side are underdogs but he has a record of upsetting the odds at Hampden from his previous jobs: "I have been to a lot of semi-finals, been very lucky to win them all, so we go with a real positivity and the players believe in what we are doing."
He is expecting a tough test from "a really good Rangers side" but insists Aberdeen have enough experience in the squad and management to cause an upset.
Team news: Chris Cadden misses out with "a mild hamstring injury", Kristers Tobers is also out with a swollen knee. Centre-half Dan Happe is suspended.
