Scottish Cup: Jimmy Thelin assesses Aberdeen impact one year on

One thing that has become clear since Thelin became part of the Scottish football furniture is his temperament.

Whether it is on the touchline or in front of the TV cameras, he is measured and calm, never getting too high or too low, irrespective of how results are going.

But is it the same story behind the closed doors of the dressing room?

“You will have to ask the players,” he said.

“I am quite calm. I think it is important you are always yourself, otherwise players can feel you are not genuine, so I try to be myself in every moment.”

Since Thelin arrived, there has been plenty of talk about there being a three-year plan at Aberdeen.

He presided over a remarkable unbeaten start to the campaign, which was followed by an even more remarkable drop in form, before results picked up again.

With the Aberdeen fifth in the Premiership, pushing for Europe, and a game away from the Scottish Cup final, does Thelin feel they are ahead, behind or on schedule?

“We are trying to take care of the short-term objectives but also trying to plan for the long term,” he said.

“I think we are where we should be, maybe a little bit ahead, maybe a little bit behind, but in general we are in a good place.

“It is a long-term process and a lot of things are already really good, but we have to always want more. That is the spirit we are trying to spread to everyone.

“We are also trying to look a bit ahead to what we think is important in the future. We try to win now but also be even better in the future.”