Celtic kicked off their season this afternoon as they hosted Aberdeen at Celtic Park with a strange kick off time of 4.30pm as Sky Sports once again showed their complete apathy towards Scottish football. Before the football got underway we got the chance to watch Celtic captain Callum McGregor hoist the league champions flag up the pole as the fans got to celebrate last season’s incredible title victory.
Kudos must go to all involved in creating a fantastic tifo display that spread throughout the entirety of the stadium pre-match, it was a wonderful way to mark the players achievements during the previous campaign. The atmosphere before kick off was electric with the fans looking forward to getting back to the real stuff after a summer break that was lengthier than usual due to us not being involved in European qualifiers this season. As a fan it’s been such a relief to not go through that early season rollercoaster of emotions.
As the match got under way Celtic looked in fine form as they moved the ball around at pace and it was only a matter of minutes before they would take the lead. I spent last season bemoaning the miniscule threat we posed from set pieces yet as the new season started with a bang that’s exactly how we went ahead in this game. A beautifully delivered Matt O’Riley corner was met by the head of Stephen Welsh with the Scottish centre back powering a header beyond the Aberdeen goalkeeper to hand his team the perfect start.
I have to say when I saw it was Welsh who scored I did have a bit of a chuckle thinking about those Celtic fans who have been urging the club to punt the young defender to Toulouse who have offered a paltry sum for the talented Scotsman. We shouldn’t even be considering selling Welsh, especially as centre back isn’t exactly an area where we have a host of top players battling for a starting spot. He’s currently our 3rd choice in that area and will be vital this season as back up to Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt. I thought Welsh played great today and continues to prove he is more than capable of representing this club.
After the early goal Celtic continued to dominate proceedings, creating plenty of chances but maybe just displaying a bit of ring rust in front of goal so early in the season, failing to take chances you know they will be taking with ease as the season progresses. A little bit sharper in front of goal and we would have entered half time at least two or three ahead.
Second half was much of the same with Celtic continuing to dominate possession but still not proving clinical enough in front of goal. As the game progressed the 1-0 scoreline was leaving me feeling quite uneasy as even though Aberdeen weren’t offering much in attack, it only takes one mistake or an opportunity from say a set piece and we are suddenly leaving a match we dominated with only one point instead of three.
Ange Postecoglou decided to ring the changes as the half went on, withdrawing our three Japanese starters Kyogo, Maeda and Hatate, replacing them with Giakoumakis, Abada and Turnbull. This showed that when our squad is free from injury we have a scary amount of talent in reserve. It must be so disheartening for the opposition seeing Celtic able to utilise such talent from thier bench. Later in the game we also brought on Aaron Mooy and Anthony Ralston. The five sub rule change is incredibly beneficial to Celtic who have a squad oozing with talent.
As we headed towards the last 15 minutes of the match we could finally rest easy as our now permanent signing Jota produced a moment of undeniable class to end the contest once and for all. His strike from distance was world class and proved what a key piece of business wrapping his signature up this summer really was. The Portuguese winger was fantastic today and deservedly won the man of the match award. He showed he has it all today with a great goal, some excellent passes and constantly torturing the opposition with his trickery and ability to beat his man. His ball to Turnbull near the end of the match was a thing of beauty that really deserved a better outcome than the one the Scottish midfielder provided.
A few other players who deserve a mention today are Greg Taylor and Matt O’Riley, who I thought were excellent throughout. Many thought Taylor would automatically lose his spot at left back with Celtic spending a lot of money on Argentinian Alexandro Bernabei but I said from the start that I thought Taylor would put up a good fight and he certainly is. I mentioned during pre season that I think Bernabei is one for the future and will need time on the training ground to adapt to the style of play Ange Postecoglou expects from his full backs. I can see Taylor being the number one left back this season until his rival is fully in to the swing of how things are done at Celtic.
O’Riley was one of the best players on the pitch today and really ran the show in the first half, doing well to link up play and trying his best to find his way through the Aberdeen defence which he managed a few times. His corner for the first goal was perfect and he set up a few other chances for his teammates as well as crafting a few opportunities himself. If he keeps this standard up it will definitely ease the fans pain of seeing Rogic leave at the end of last season.
Only real negative I can think of today is the two chances Jonny Hayes had during the match. On both occasions Celtic were carved open with ease and it really does show that for all our attacking talent, we do miss that defensive midfielder that has proved elusive so far this transfer window. A player like that won’t be needed too often playing in Scotland but if Aberdeen can open us up with such ease in these scenarios then just imagine what a top European team could do to us in the Champions League.
Today was a day for positives however. A beautiful sunny day was the perfect setting to raise the champions flag and the football on offer today was more than acceptable. As an added bonus we are one match day in and we are already able to sing ‘top of the league looking down on theRangers’. I have to say I did enjoy that chant after Jota’s goal. Almost as much as I enjoyed the little chant regarding the fans feelings towards the Tory party!
Three points in the bag against a tricky opponent and already top of the league. That’ll do nicely.
Conall McGinty
