DONS defender Charlie Mulgrew has rubbished those who belittle the SPL, saying it beats the English Championship.
No one is better placed to make this claim than the 23-year-old free-kick specialist, who moved to Aberdeen from Championship side Wolves in the summer.
The Scotland Under-21 left-back rejected a better offer from Swindon to come to the SPL, and believes the lure of European football is the difference between the leagues.
He said: "This is an ambitious club which is a major reason why I joined it in in the first place.
"Getting back in to European football is a massive incentive. I watched the exciting occasions the team had in the UEFA Cup on TV last season.
"All the boys who played in those games want more of that while the new ones like me are hoping to get involved next time."
Mulgrew thinks that the doom and gloom following the Scottish clubs' dreadful results in Europe this season has been overplayed, and that there is a lot to be positive about.
He said: "There are many good young players pushing through at various clubs and I don't think this is the right time to get down on Scottish football.
"This is a time to be positive about the future given that talent and having played down in the Championship, our game compares favourably."
