Derek McInnes: We'll be looking to cause an upset and send Burnley crashing out of Europe

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes says his players will push themselves to the limit to try to upset the odds in a mouth-watering Europa League tie against Burnley.

The Dons will face the English Premier League club in the second qualifying round after being handed arguably the toughest possible assignment from yesterday’s draw in Nyon.

McInnes accepts Aberdeen are rank outsiders against a Burnley outfit who finished seventh in the EPL last season and have a player budget in excess of £60 million. But he is relishing the challenge posed in the tie, the first leg of which will take place at Pittodrie on 26 July with the second leg at Turf Moor on 2 August.

“We know we’ll be big underdogs but rest assured we’ll be doing all we possibly can to cause an upset,” said McInnes. “There will be a terrific atmosphere at Pittodrie and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a sell-out. It’s a fantastic draw. We’ll be playing against a team that has done exceptionally well in what is regarded as the best league in the world. It should be a fabulous contest.”

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes says his side will go all out to cause an upset against Burnley. Picture: Ian Rutherford/PA Wire

It will be the fourth time Aberdeen have faced English opponents in Europe. They lost 5-2 to Tottenham in the second round of the Uefa Cup in 1973-74, before enduring mixed fortunes against top-flight English clubs during the halcyon days of Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial tenure. They lost 5-0 on aggregate to Liverpool in the second round of the European Cup in 1980-81 but beat holders Ipswich 4-2 on aggregate in the first round of the Uefa Cup the next season.