Not everyone agreed with Thelin’s assessment of his players, though.

Former Aberdeen defender Andy Considine said he was concerned with the lack of intensity and agression from his old club.

“As a team, there was no energy, we didn’t go toe-to-toe with them,” he said on Sky Sports. “We were passive.

“The opportunities Rangers got down both wings to get balls into the box… and when Leon Balogun came on, every ball that came in Aberdeen couldn’t defend.

“It was disappointing to watch. We lacked a lot of fight, to be honest with you.”

Former Aberdeen captain Willie Miller believes Thelin will be given time to try to build long-term success at Aberdeen.

However, he warned that Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at League 2 Elgin City could proved pivotal.

“The fans have stuck with them through poor performances, which is unusual in football,” Miller said on BBC Scotland’s Sportsound.

“You can see he’s changing the personnel quite substantially, and that needs time. But he desperately needs that win against Elgin. You can’t envisage anything else.

“But there’s got to be a question mark over where the team is going.

“They have the long-term plan but between now and the end of the season they need to find that spark in the final third.”