Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson is overhauling his squad with eight new summer signings to create a more physical and high-pressing team ahead of the upcoming competitive season.
The rebuilt Dons recently secured a 1-0 victory against Cove Rangers on June 27, 2026, before heading to a training camp in the Netherlands.
The club struggled with on-field control last season, recording the lowest duel success rate in the league and conceding the most goals from set pieces.
To address these weaknesses, Robinson and sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel targeted specific tactical profiles during the transfer window.
New arrivals include Austrian midfielder Alexander Briedl, known for speed and pressing, along with mobile midfielder Brad Lyons and center-back Lewis Mayo.
Defensively, 6ft 6in center-back Dan Happe was brought in from Leyton Orient to provide height, while winger Tony Yogane arrived from Dundee to add pace.
The team also faced significant goal-scoring challenges after finding the net only 40 times in 38 league matches last season.
Kevin Nisbet was the top scorer with 11 goals, but the club has boosted its frontline by signing 23-year-old Moroccan striker Ayoub Mouloua from FUS Rabat.
Before the friendly against Cove Rangers, Robinson detailed his rigorous pre-season training strategy to RedTV.
"I'm looking forward to it. The boys will play 45 minutes each.
We've worked them hard today as well so we want them to play with a little bit of heavy legs so that they start getting fitter and stronger," Robinson said.
The manager emphasized that building match fitness took priority over tactical perfection during the opening exhibition matches.
"I think at this stage it's purely fitness. As I say, we worked very, very hard today.
You wouldn't prepare usually for a game on a Saturday like that.
We're trying to push them a little bit harder so that when it comes to the season, they're ahead of themselves," he added.
Despite the heavy focus on stamina, Robinson noted that strategic offensive movements practiced behind closed doors were beginning to show on the pitch.
"But you're looking for certain things that you've worked on in training as well. You know, some patterns, which we saw in the friendly on Wednesday night.
A lot of our final third play was very good against a lower team that will sit in, which will replicate the cup games and replicate some games during the season.
It's important to have that creativity," Robinson said.
The friendly match was decided by a fourth-minute goal from Toyosi Olusanya, allowing Robinson to field two entirely different lineups across each half.
"You're looking at the early stages of those patterns and team shape, but it is mostly fitness.
You want to get a good 45 minutes out of the players, and then we'll change the full 11 and then go to Holland with 90 minutes under our belts from the two games," Robinson said.
Aberdeen will face FC Twente in a friendly in the Netherlands before starting their competitive campaign against Brora Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup.
