Source: Team_Talk
Maguire hoping for a miracle
Chris Maguire refused to write off Aberdeen's hopes of staging one of the great European comebacks when they play the second leg of their Europa League clash with Sigma Olomouc.
The Dons slumped to their heaviest ever home defeat in Europe last Thursday when their Czech opponents ran out 5-1 winners in the first leg of the third qualifying round tie.
It was the worst possible start to the reign of Pittodrie legend Mark McGhee, who immediately gave his side no chance of overturning the deficit on Thursday night.
But Maguire insists a miraculous result is not out of the question.
"We've got to go out there with a positive attitude," the striker said.
"It's going to be a hard task.
"If you look at it, we've got to win 5-0 to go through - 5-1 takes you to extra-time.
"I'm sure if we go out there and give it our best shot, you never know what can happen."
Maguire believes Aberdeen showed in the first hour at Pittodrie that they could compete with Sigma, who demonstrated the superior match fitness gained from having begun their domestic season the week before.
The 20-year-old will be hoping a competitive game and an extra week's training will have the desired effect on the Dons.
"We're still in pre-season and we need to go into this game full of confidence," he said.
"We can look back at last week's result and think, '5-1, we're down and out'.
"But we've just got to keep going and hopefully we can maybe turn it around."
Despite the forward's youthful optimism, realistically Aberdeen are playing for pride.
Having admitted the tie is over, McGhee could decide to rest key men tomorrow and give the likes of Maguire a chance to impress.
The player himself is eager to seize his opportunity and give his manager something to think about ahead of next weekend's Clydesdale Bank Premier League curtain-raiser against Celtic,
especially as the club now appear to have released funds for McGhee to bring in reinforcements.
A goal tomorrow night would help Maguire's cause and he said: "Every player wants to score in every game they play, no matter if it's a pre-season friendly, the League Cup or even the Europa League.
"It's the same for myself tomorrow. If I get a chance to play then hopefully I can get a goal and at least I can say I've scored in the Europa League."
Maguire knows he and his team-mates owe the club a performance.
He told RedTV: "We were disappointed with the last half-hour at Pittodrie. It was a real blow and a shock for everybody - myself, the other players, the fans and especially the manager."
Those sentiments were echoed by McGhee, who said: "It was a diabolical feeling and that feeling will not go away.
"However, you have to play again, you have to get back on your bike. Therefore I will not allow the players to be downcast and depressed.
"We are going to give it a go. I think there is a lot to play for.
"There is also a game coming up the next week against Celtic which all the players will want to play in.
"The guys know there will be new faces coming in and it might be in their positions and they might miss out so the ones that are on the trip have an opportunity to show me they should not be left out when new players arrive."
