It was a case of Aberdeen aggression being met by Celtic composure at Pittodrie yesterday as Brendan Rodgers’ side ran out comfortable 2–0 winners…
James Forrest during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobsonx PSI (IMAGO)
The victory was built on a foundation of defensive resilience and midfield control, with the back line and engine room organised, progressive and aggressive when needed. Yet the familiar issue remains – when Celtic enter the final third, the fluency isn’t always there.
The opener came courtesy of Tierney’s grit and guile
The opener came courtesy of Tierney’s grit and guile. The left-back’s tenacity was followed by a delicious delivery, met with perfect timing from Benjamin Nygren, whose sumptuous instep finish left Mitov with no chance. This demonstrated technique and determination in equal measure from both players.
Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring to give Celtic a 0-1 lead. Aberdeen v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, 10 August 2025. Photo IMAGO/ Shutterstock, Stuart Wallace
Nygren was central again for the second. Driving down the right, he spotted Reo Hatate in acres of space and found him with a perfectly timed pass – the window to deliver was tiny, but Nygren threaded the ball with precision. Hatate’s finish was sublime, curling just enough to evade the remarkable reach of Graeme Shinnie’s nose before nestling in the top corner. A goal of the season contender? It’s early, but quite possibly.
Daizen’s now trademark ability to turn a golden opportunity into slapstick
Beyond those moments, Daizen Maeda’s effort that Mitov tipped over was the only real chance of note – aside from Daizen’s now trademark ability to turn a golden opportunity into slapstick when he somehow fell over when clean through. He is capable of the absolutely sublime, but also the ridiculous, and although this one fell into the latter category, we wouldn’t change him for anyone.
What was especially pleasing was Celtic’s refusal to be bullied. Aberdeen spent much of the opening spell attempting to disrupt our rhythm, aided in no small part by referee John Beaton’s willingness to wave play on during most of their aggressive challenges.
A blatant handball in the build-up to Aberdeen’s best chance
A blatant handball in the build-up to Aberdeen’s best chance – a long-range strike brilliantly saved by Kasper Schmeichel – went unpunished despite Beaton being just three yards away. You can forgive a missed incident in the chaos and fog of midfield, but when it’s right in front of you, questions have to be asked.
Still, Celtic’s defence stood firm, and the midfield matched Aberdeen’s physicality blow for blow. Callum McGregor in particular showed that stature means little when you’re willing to dig elbow-deep into a battle. The back four of Tierney, Carter-Vickers, Scales, and Johnston won’t be bullied this season, and that’s a huge plus, although Auston Trusty must be running Scales close for a starting shirt by now.
Aberdeen v Celtic – Brendan Rodgers and Kieran Tierney after the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI (IMAGO)
Special praise must go to Tierney – not just for the assist for the opener, but for his composure and work rate throughout. The fact he spent half-time closer to a Pittodrie toilet bowl than a tactics board makes his display even more impressive. He’s still short of his peak, but his presence in the dressing room is as important as his ability on the pitch.
But here’s the elephant in the room, again
But here’s the elephant in the room, again. Celtic managed just four shots on target at Pittodrie, and only six against St Mirren the week before. With Kyogo and Nicolas Kühn sold, and Jota injured, the front line is depleted. Three weeks from the close of the transfer window, we still look no closer to bringing in attacking reinforcements.
Reo Hatate scores Celtic second goal and celebrates during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI (IMAGO).
Rodgers is putting out a winning team despite slow recruitment, but no defence or midfield can carry a team forever. We need players who can unlock low blocks, carry the ball into the box, link up intricately – and most importantly, score consistently. That’s not an extravagant request for a Celtic manager, it’s the bare minimum.
If you think the players weren’t disappointed by Kyogo’s sale before Munich, think again
The dressing room will feel this too. If you think the players weren’t disappointed by Kyogo’s sale before Munich, think again. Now, with Kühn gone and Jota’s return uncertain, the squad will be wondering about the club’s ambition. This is a group that believes it’s capable of reaching the Champions League last 16 – and they’ll expect the board to share that belief.
The frustration was visible yesterday. Nygren and Maeda cut exasperated figures as Adam Idah turned in his second anonymous display in as many games. The striking role needs urgent attention, as do both wings. Once the fixture list ramps up to two or three games a week, the lack of depth will be exposed.
Referee John Beaton shows Liam Scales 5 of Celtic a yellow card during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Aberdeen Pittodrie. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI (IMAGO)
Nygren was the star of the show
Nygren was the star of the show – a goal and assist making him a worthy Man of the Match – but James Forrest also deserves immense credit. At 34, he remains our most creative winger, and while that speaks volumes about recruitment failings, it also underlines his enduring quality. He changed the game against St Mirren and was immense again yesterday.
It’s a joy to have him fit and firing, and Rodgers really does get the best out of him, as he’s proven over both his spells as manager. But the thought of relying on Yang and Tilio in rotation if Forrest picks up one of his all-too-frequent knocks is a sobering one.
Aberdeen v Celtic – Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers during the Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Pittodrie on 10 August 2025. Photo Stephen Dobson PSI (IMAGO)
Rodgers is a top-class manager, and he’s proving it once again. But even he’s no miracle worker. Without the attacking reinforcements this squad is crying out for, Celtic’s composure might only take us so far.
Niall J
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There is little creativity in the final third and absolutely nothing to worry any Champions League team and possibly not even a Champions League qualifying play off team.
If Idah is the answer, I shudder to think what the question is. He is a physical presence which automatically attracts defenders but there is little support for him and in turn little link up play from him.
Our defence does look strong and intimidating and our midfield competent, without being impressive, but the forward line is a massive concern. I like the movement and pace of Kenny, and perhaps if he cost £9M he might get a run of games. Shin looked bright when he came on and the game opened up.
Make no mistake though, Aberdeen were poor and it already looks like it could be a long season for them.
As for Beaton: the handball decision, or lack thereof, before Aberdeen’s best chance was simply shocking and, if a goal had been scored, it would’ve been interesting to see VAR’s take on it.
The amount of times our players are fouled when breaking clear, or advancing into promising positions, and no card is produced is shocking. Devlin was lucky not to be booked in the first half and could easily have been sent off in the second. Shinnie best turn of pace is when he runs at the referee trying to get players booked or to cause a confrontation.
The board with the Young Mr Grace approach…
“You’re all doing very well”
Call it what it is, blatant cheating.
Cheatin’ Beaton. Calling him incompetent is praising him. He’s the one reason Aberdeen never finished the game with only 9-men.
Extremely hard to understand why Celtic picked up more bookings than Aberdeen. And that’s after watching that full game 3-times. Cheatin’ Beaton doing his bit for King and Rangers, and not for the first time.
But we are always up against that sort of thing in Scottish football. We bring a lot of it on ourselves because we accept it. We rarely ever make a fuss about it, especially if we win the game. And that’s just wrong.
Niall J, I honestly believe you write this column without having watched the game at all.
Some of your comments made me wonder if we were talking about the same team, players or game! Then I realized you can’t have seen it.
The big giveaway was when you mentioned Trusty now running Scales close for a starting role! For the past two league games, (no goal conceded), Scales has been solid staying on his feet, winning every aeriel battle, interception and tackle on the ground.
When Trusty came on at the back with 30 minutes or so left on Sunday, Aberdeen saw hope! Every time Trusty received a ball they put pressure on him and he passed backwards WITHOUT WATCHING WHERE IT WAS GOING.
His body language is one of a junior player out of his depth and full of nerves!
Facts are facts. The only thing he has over Scales is he is slightly faster. But he doesn’t know how to use it, so that’s a problem!
Truth be told, he is a liability!
Hiya Joe, you’re having a go Niall but sorry bro I have to ask if you were watching the same game, Scales (who did really well last week) was a bomb scare yesterday, he gave the ball away with simple passes 6 or 7 times, He caused Aberdeens best chance out of nothing, thankfully the Aberdeen player smashing his shot off that big dumpling of a number 9 Aberdeen have, stopped what could have been a difficult moment for Kasper. I genuinely thought Scales looked like the junior player with panicky body language. Personally, Trusty looks the better player to me, a higher upper level, Scales yesterday caused more problems and couldn’t really pass, and is also starting to look like Steven ‘I live under a bridge’ Presleys love child.
Can’t believe this Scales rubbish. He was excellent last week, maybe even MOTM, but yesterday I watched him pass the ball directly to an opposing player 5 yards away, 5 times at least, and if that had been against better opposition we would have been sorely punished. After this he was then like a rabbit in the headlights, really dunno what you defenders watch, he was shocking yesterday, and surely only our paucity of suitable replacements kept him on the park.
These players are sportsmen and entertainers of the public, with that comes big wages and fair criticism of their performance, wake up and especially open your eyes, go back and watch it, at least 5 misplaced easy passes, 15 to 20 foot passes, he put every one to an opponent. He’s Irish and he’s a Celt should not make him immune to fair criticism, go back and watch it.
I get the concern around the lack of signings in some areas but looking through the team, the defense, we replaced Taylor with Tierney and added a very highly rated Man City CB, to me the defense is stronger. Midfield, we added Nygren and lost no one, for me the midfield is stronger. We lost Kuhn and he needs replaced but the Kyogo argument that the media and pundits continually trot out seems lazy, Idah was a £9m Rodgers signing who scored 20 goals behind Kyogo last year, we can’t just keep buying expensive forwards, Idah needs a shot for that money we paid. Kyogo invariably had only 4/5 touches a game and numbers indicate that his prowess was diminishing from the first couple of seasons, in the league season 2 36 games and 27 goals, season 3 38 games 14 goals, and last season 22 games 10 goals, thats a significant decline. Idah played 35 (mostly off the bench) and scored 13, a better ratio that Kyogo in season 3. Idah with Kenny and Shin as backups isn’t a disaster, Idah doesn’t create the chances and thats whats been missing the first two games. We need 2 wingers minimum and given Kuhn only played half a season, those two wingers, should leave us in a stronger position that last year.
We cant keep blaming the board for players not wanting to stay with us, Kyogo and Khun made it clear they didnt want to be here so they left, i for one wish them well and draw a line under it there. They didnt want to be Celtic players and if you ask me watching them for the weeka and months leading up to them leaving it was VERY obvious they didnt want to be here. As for Jota, you also cant blame them for that.
Ok yes i get it, we would all prefer players in quicker, but knot as a knee jerk. From everything i hear we are VERY lucky we didnt get the lad from go ahead eagles as hes really not ready, and for 5mil, we dodged a bullet. I would much rather we pushed Maeda back thru the middle with Shin, Kenny then Idah as his back up and get another left Winger, but thats just me
Watched the game madea was really poor also not chasing back when he lost the ball i think his mind is thinking about transfers and money” scales passing was terrible and regarding adah will needs to up his game and quickly but overall was a easy game for us how we lost to Aberdeen in the cup final is hard to take they rotten.