What pleased Hibs boss Marink Reedijk most in Aberdeen victory as captain injury update provided
Hibs rise to league challenge after Hampden heroics
Marink Reedijk believes Hibs showed that their Hampden heroics weren’t a flash in the pan as they stormed to a stunning 4-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie. And the Easter Road boss, who provided an update on the hamstring injury that saw captain Felix Passlack last less than 10 minutes in the Granite City, identified the key quality he saw in his first league win as manager.
Reedijk, who had led his team to a historic win over Hearts in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at the national stadium just six days earlier, saw Jamie McGrath open the scoring with a screamer against his old club. That goal just before the hour mark opened the floodgates as substitutes Callum Wright, Nicky Cadden and Thibault Klidje piled on the suffering for an Aberdeen side now in crisis.
Celebrations at full-time
The Hibs gaffer, speaking after a result that saw his team rise from the bottom of the Scottish Premiership to sit 10th heading into the international break, was able to celebrate with players in front of rapturous away fans.
And he said: “It was important we confirmed what we did last week, that it was not a one-day flight. That you put in the same performance and you see an increase in the performance.”
Reedijk revealed that unity on AND off the park, with substitutes scoring and supporters providing their backing, was the subject of his post-match address in the dressing room, explaining: “Well, we just spoke about that this is a togetherness which is really good. That you win 0-4 in Aberdeen, which is a very good result
“This is a really good team performance from everybody, not only the guys who started, but also the guys who came on. This was the message.
“All the subs who came on apart from Rabbi (Matondo) scored. It shows they are together, hungry and want to deliver. They work really hard every day and it is good to see.
“Together means also not only within the team as the staff and the players, that means the whole club, so that means the people who work in HTC, that means the people who work at the stadium. But it also means the fans who support us here, which is a very long driv. With my experience, I'm from Holland, so an hour is far away already!
“But also the people who are back at home and support us. And I'm very happy that we can give them something, not only in the Cup but now also in the league.”
League position not the focus
Admitting he couldn’t make out what fans where chanting in the celebration scenes, the Dutchman said: “I don't know. In all fairness, I also have difficulties to understand the songs yet, so I ask some of the guys what do they sing when we come in. This is something I need to learn a little bit better.”
Addressing his team’s climb off the foot of the table, Reedijk – just half a dozen games into his time as boss - said he was never overly concerned with league position so early in the season, explaining: “No, for me it's more important that we get the three points. And I think match by match, the table will be there at the end of the season. And if you focus on the next match, this is where we have influence on.
“We can decide how we're going to attack the opponent, how we're going to defend the opponent, and I cannot decide what happens on the other pitches. And this also results in a league table.
“What I know is that if we start to get more three points, we will be higher in the league table than if we lose the matches, so this is my focus. Every week the next match is the most important.”
The one low point for Hibs on an afternoon of highs came early, Passlack holding his left leg as he pulled up, with Alex Williams replacing the skipper at right back after just eight minutes.
Providing an update on the former Borussia Dortmund prospect, Reedijk said: “Yeah, we have to see. I have to see what happened with Felix, he felt a little bit in his hamstring.
“So first signals are not good, because otherwise you don't come off. How it specifically looks like is for a later date, because it's always impact after. You need some time to settle down and then you can have a better idea.”