Brendan Rodgers, the manager of Celtic FC, has expressed his delight at Aberdeen FC’s resurgence in Scottish football. The Dons have been on an impressive unbeaten run, stretching 16 games, and are currently level on points with Celtic in the Premiership.
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers Welcomes Aberdeen Revival and Makes Rangers Prediction
Rodgers believes that Aberdeen’s revival is a positive development for Scottish football, stating, “I think it’s brilliant. I think it’s great. Whether it’s football or business, any competition is healthy and it’s what makes you better.”
The Celtic manager acknowledges that competition drives standards and performance, adding, “You will always drive your own standards and your own standard of performance, absolutely. But competition is really, really healthy and can keep moving you forward.”
Aberdeen’s Form Not a Surprise
Rodgers is not surprised by Aberdeen’s impressive form this season, citing their consistency and quality players. “I always expect Aberdeen to be up there after my first time here. In Derek McInnes’s time, he had a great period, and to see them up there is not a surprise. They are playing and performing very well.”
The Celtic manager also praised Aberdeen’s manager, Jimmy Thelin, and his coaching staff, saying, “Jimmy has done a fantastic job, and he has good coaching staff behind the scenes too.”
Learning from Previous Encounter
Celtic drew 2-2 with Aberdeen in their previous league encounter at Parkhead, and Rodgers views this as a warning. “It was a game we should have won. We were 2-0 up and had chances. We then got punished for our slackness in the first 15 minutes of the second half.”
Rodgers emphasized the importance of concentration and commitment in defending, stating, “That showed us that if you are slack and not concentrated and committed in your defending, they have players who can hurt you.”
Semi-Final Showdown
The two teams meet again in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden, and Rodgers is eager to reach the final. “We are looking forward to it, and we know the challenges. But it will be a tough game.”
Celtic’s Hunger to Reclaim Trophy
Rodgers wants to reclaim the Premier Sports Cup, his first trophy as Celtic manager. “It certainly gives us hunger because we missed out on it. But we are in a far different place to last year. Our hunger is there to reach the first final of the season.”
The Celtic manager concluded, “Leading into this one, both teams have had a midweek game. Our concentration was on Dundee, and then we flipped quickly onto this one. It’s been very focused. Every game is a big game for us, so the mantra this week isn’t so different.”
Rangers Prediction
Rodgers also made a prediction about Rangers, stating that they will be there at some point, fighting for the top spot. “Everyone will expect Rangers to be there at some point; there will be other teams, big clubs from Edinburgh, who will feel they want to be up there challenging as well.”
In conclusion, Brendan Rodgers welcomes Aberdeen’s resurgence and views it as a positive development for Scottish football. He acknowledges the challenges posed by the Dons and is eager to reach the Premier Sports Cup final.
References:
Daily Record
Celtic FC
Aberdeen FC
Premier Sports Cup
Scottish Premiership
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