Untouchable, breathtaking and scintillating are only few of the synonyms to describe Celtic’s majestic display at Hampden in their 6-0 drubbing of the much-hyped Aberdeen at Hampden Park last night…
Some of the goals on show were of the very highest order. The interchanging play from middle to front dismantled a Dons side whose unbeaten run of 16 matches under Jimmy Thelin came to a sobering end at the national stadium as Celtic delivered an emphatic reality check.
Celtic Team Selection
A few eyebrows were raised prior to the match over Brendan Rodgers’ team selection, but that is why the Irishman’s paid the big bucks. Rodgers’ now has 12 wins from 12 at Hampden Park and will be going for his 10th trophy as Celtic manager across his two spells in December’s final. Brendan picked up his first yellow card at Hampden for doing an impersonation of Slippy G, his former captain at Liverpool. That just added to the entertainment on show from this wonderful Celtic team he has created.
The outstanding Nicolas Kuhn
Three goals in 11 minutes set the Hoops well on their way, firstly through Cameron Carter-Vickers whose bullet header opened the scoring after half an hour. Moments later, Kyogo made it two with the goal being made in Japan. It was Daizen Maeda’s press that forced Slobodan Rubezic’s error which resulted in Kyogo netting his sixth goal at Hampden in three years as a Hoops player.
A terrific opening 45 was finished off by Maeda deservedly grabbing the first mission of his hat-trick. Latching onto an exceptional pass from the outstanding Nicolas Kuhn, the Japanese winger’s duly dispatched, putting Aberdeen well and truly to the sword.
The German the best player in Scotland this season
Meanwhile, Kuhn has now been involved in 15 goal involvements so far this season. Undoubtedly, the German has been the best player in Scotland thus far and has morphed into a Celtic talisman. Running out of superlatives to demonstrate the quality of the talented wideman which was illustrated by Celtic’s fifth of the game. Michael Stewart outlined in commentary that there could have been three Dimitar Mitov’s in goal, and they still would have got nowhere near Kuhn’s world-class strike.
Celtic’s sixth the pick of the bunch
Celtic’s sixth was the pick of the bunch. Hatate’s defence splitting pass to Bernardo who flicked it round to Johnston who then laid it on a plate for Maeda to grab his hat-trick was a goal of the season contender. That quick, dynamic play caused the Dons many problems all evening, and it summed up the performance from Brendan Rodgers’ men.
Special mention for Reo Hatate
Special mention to Reo Hatate, who possibly produced his finest display since arriving to Glasgow in January 2021. Dons midfield duo Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Nilsen could not get close to Hatate who outclassed the pair for 90 minutes.
Today, Celtic will find out their opponents for December’s Scottish League Cup final. Sadly, for any of the Hoops domestic challengers, the result against Aberdeen is and will not be an isolated scoreline. Celtic can inflict that kind of ruthlessness of any side in Scotland, and quite rightly so given the financial disparity. A 22nd Scottish League Cup triumph and a historic 119th trophy awaits the champions of Scotland in a month’s time.
Forrest > Bernardo > McGregor > Reo > GT > McGregor > Bernardo > McGregor > GT > Bernardo > Forrest > McGregor > Bernardo > GT > Scales > GT > Scales > Trusty > Scales > Forrest > Maeda > McGregor > GT > Scales > Trusty >Bernardo>Forrest > Reo > Bernardo > Johnston > Maeda > Goal pic.twitter.com/gAc0sXoXb9
— The Celtic Way (@TheCelticWay3) November 3, 2024
Here’s the Unique Angle from Celtic TV for you to enjoy…
Conor Spence
Was overdue.
Big step up v Leipzig.
Any sloppy play will be punished.
Hail hail.
If ever a statement victory, needed to be produced, then the slaying of the sheep, was possibly the best ever example I have ever seen produced?
This despite controlling the game for the first half hour, and yet that final ball, was eluding ourselves still?
But once it was found, then the champagne football became so free flowing, capped off with such a majestic 6th goal.
So many outstanding performances to choose from, but the return to form for Maeda, was a delight to see, after a few hit and miss displays recently?
Is kuhn up to jota standards now, for what he can produce in the wider areas now?
Certainly starting to look like it at present, and that debate will grow legs at a very fast rate currently imo?
But seeing Hatate returning to a dominant midfield display, in the manner that we have been waiting for, for some time now, was possibly the most pleasing sight on show, for myself anyway?
Rodgers seemed very irate yesterday, which was a bit surprising?
The team selection didn’t really throw up any real surprises, especially when so many are looking as automatic starters, for ourselves in the bigger games, if available to start?
But Rodgers is also a brilliant game player also, so starting a whodunit before Leipzig, isn’t a preparation tactic for the game, I would complain about, for sure?
Give them eejits in the Scottish media something to try and figure out, to keep such a tiny bitter scum cheerleader mindset busy for the next few days?
After such a statement victory sent out to Scottish football yesterday, the only question that still exists, is to who will be the 2nd best team in Scotland?
No dispute regarding the no1 slot, not that there was really any real competition in that regards for ourselves, and yesterday confirmed that?