Source: Team_Talk
Paatelainen keen to finish on high
The Easter Road outfit will leapfrog the Dons if they win by two clear goals at Pittodrie following a productive top-six run that has seen them overcome Edinburgh rivals Hearts and throw a spanner in the works of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title push with draws against each half of the Old Firm.
Having just scraped into the upper echelons ahead of Motherwell at the split on the back of an indifferent campaign, Paatelainen is looking to finish the season on a high.
However, the former Dons striker is not expecting an easy ride in the Granite City as the Dons still harbour hopes of finishing fourth and claiming a Europa League berth.
Paatelainen said: "It would be nice to finish fifth rather than sixth, that's for sure. "It's a big ask, Aberdeen are fully motivated to beat us because they can still qualify for Europe.
"Never mind that, Pittodrie is always a difficult place to go to and get three points. We go with a positive frame of mind again, we will try our best and hopefully we will get a victory.
"Hopefully, if we manage to beat them with a two-goal cushion we can finish fifth which will be fantastic.
"We are glad we are still in the position to do so, so hopefully we can do it but it will be difficult."
Dundee United's win at Easter Road remains Hibs' only post-split defeat, a loss which ended their hopes of qualifying for Europe, but Paatelainen has been pleased with his players' response.
Hibs' campaign has been plagued by inconsistency but Paatelainen insists that is to be expected.
He added: "It happens to every club, it happens to us and it happens to the Old Firm, and even Barcelona.
"We have plenty to improve on that's for sure, our form at times this season has not been as good as we wanted.
"We are still at the stage where we are not playing every game how we want and we need to improve.
"We want to get more consistent, at times our passing has let us down in terms of keeping the ball and we want to improve on that."
Hibs are bracing themselves for bids for Scotland international Steven Fletcher and captain Rob Jones this summer but the Finn insists he is also working on trying to recruit fresh faces.
Hibs have tightened their belt like nearly every other club in Scottish football amid the economic crisis and Paatelainen admits he will have to be shrewd in the market.
He said: "Experienced quality players are costly, can we do that?
"We will have to wait and see but we will try our best.
"We have entered the market already and have talked to one or two players and hopefully we can bring in players that can improve the squad."
