Brendan Rodgers praised his Celtic players for their resilience and focus as they battled fierce weather conditions and a determined Aberdeen side to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Pittodrie.
Reo Hatate’s second-half winner and Cameron Carter-Vickers’ heroic late block ensured Celtic remained the only unbeaten team in the league and extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
“Fair play to the players, they were absolutely brilliant,” Rodgers said post-match. “That weather was as bad as I’ve had it, especially coming up here. I thought both sets of players tried to play the game as best they could. I thought we deserved to win.”
A Game of Patience for Celtic
Celtic controlled the game with 74% possession, but the wild weather and Aberdeen’s dogged defending made it difficult to break through. The Hoops dominated the first half, working the ball well into the final third but struggling to find the killer touch.
“In the first half, we took control, we worked it quite well into the final third of the pitch but couldn’t quite make it,” Rodgers explained.
Rodgers’ belief in the team’s approach never wavered, and the manager credited his players for sticking to the plan. “I just felt that in time [a goal would come], we trust our process, we trust our game. Especially after winning 6-0 in the semi-final, we knew Aberdeen wouldn’t roll over.”
Battling to the End
After Greg Taylor’s excellent assist set up Hatate’s winner in the 78th minute, Celtic faced a late surge from Aberdeen. The Dons came close to equalising, but Carter-Vickers’ incredible last-ditch block preserved the clean sheet.
“It’s a huge credit to the players to keep the concentration, to defend that well—especially those few moments at the end—I’m so, so pleased,” Rodgers told BBC.
Rodgers acknowledged the challenge of facing an Aberdeen side determined to make amends for their League Cup semi-final defeat. “They’re a team that are really hard to beat, we knew it was going to be tough and we’d maybe have to take the game into the final half hour.”
What’s Next for Celtic?
The Hoops return to Parkhead on Saturday to face Hibs in league action before a crucial trip to Croatia in the Champions League. They then prepare for the Glasgow derby League Cup final on 15 December. It’s all go for the club!
