While angst over the players Celtic haven’t signed this summer is now threatening to boil over, yesterday proved a timely reminder of the quality Brendan Rodgers already has in the building.
Kieran Tierney’s credentials probably didn’t need underscoring after his return from Arsenal was confirmed, but this was another day when the full-back’s formidable talent again struck you between the eyes.
The deadlock in a contest which was high on energy yet low on quality showed little sign of being broken until the 28-year-old created half a yard down the left flank midway through the first half when there appeared to be nowhere for him to go.
His cross which resulted in the opening goal was excellent, as was his all-round contribution for the 67 minutes he was on the field. Who says you don’t get anything for free in this world?
It was not a day the man on the end of his cross would forget in a hurry either. To date, Benjamin Nygren has only looked in flashes like the player Celtic hoped they’d signed.
The Swede looked the part at Pittodrie. A superb finish came before he set up Reo Hatate for Celtic’s second midway through the second half. There was much beyond that to suggest that the £2million Celtic paid Nordsjaelland for his services looks like a shrewd investment.
Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate is hailed after scoring a magnificent goal to double his side’s lead
New boy Benjamin Nygren had put the visitors in front after sweeping home a Tierney cross
Returning Celtic favourite Kieran Tierney set up the opener with a fine turn of pace and cross
Celtic were by no means sparkling, yet they were deserving of a win which ensured they stretched their unbeaten league run against Aberdeen to 28 matches.
Brendan Rodgers’ side defended smartly and carried more of a threat than their opponents. A page has now been turned on May’s Scottish Cup final defeat to the Dons.
Even this early in the season, it felt like a significant win. With Rangers potentially inactive in the weekend prior to the first derby, Celtic might well travel to Ibrox with a seven-point lead.
You can only imagine that, by that stage, Rodgers’ squad will be far stronger than it is now. Frankly, it will need to be. Despite this win, the squad is unquestionably weaker than it was at the turn of the year.
Kyogo Furuhashi has never been adequately replaced since moving to Rennes for £10million in January. The £16.5m Como paid for Nicolas Kuhn earlier this summer has yet to be reinvested.
The deadline for signing players for the Champions League play-off against either Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava is Thursday. There’s £40m on the line on that tie. Driving a hard bargain is one thing. An inability to identify and recruit the right players will be seen as inexcusable.
Aberdeen also need to recruit fresh faces, particularly in the forward area. Jimmy Thelin’s side were toothless in front of goal here. The imminent signing of AC Milan’s Serbian striker Marko Lazetic will not come a moment too soon.
With a gentle breeze blowing through Pittodrie, these were close to perfect conditions. Despite that, both sides initially struggled with the basics.
While Celtic, predictably, dominated the ball, Aberdeen showed them into areas where the home side felt comfortable.
Having soaked up some early pressure, Thelin’s men fashioned the first meaningful opening. Adil Aouchiche looked to have better options when he picked the ball up centrally, but rolled the ball onto his right foot and let fly from 25 yards. Kasper Schmeichel’s outstretched right hand turned the ball away to safety.
Surveying the scene in a sharp suit — but noticeably minus his club tie — Rodgers wouldn’t have been too thrilled with the way his side initially went about their business. A routine six-yard pass from Tierney to Hatate went straight out of play and was typical of the early efforts.
Belatedly, Celtic found their rhythm. Adam Idah did well to create space for a shot on the turn inside the box. Alfie Dorrington ensured Dimitar Mitov’s goal was protected.
McGregor feels the force of a double challenge from Dons stars Heltne-Nilsen and Jensen
Aberdeen planned to get the ball up to Kusini Yengi as quickly as possible to enable runners to play off the hulking striker. While Yengi’s touch and composure weren’t the greatest, the balls fired to him often landed in a different postcode.
Arriving just after the midway point of the first half, Celtic’s opener was a reminder of Tierney’s potency in his first spell at the club.
Nicolas Milanovic looked high on confidence from the first whistle and would have fancied his chances of nullifying the threat Tierney posed when he faced him up on the left flank.
From a standing start, though, it was as if the full-back had put on the afterburners. Three quick touches edged him away from the Australian and allowed him to wrap his left foot around the ball to cross.
Nygren was quicker to react than Sivert Nilsen and swept the ball past Mitov with his cultured left foot.
It was a goal out of nothing. With Tierney in the side, you suspect Celtic will score many more of them this season.
Aberdeen’s defence is left devastated as Nygren wheels away to celebrate his first-half opener
Diligent and disciplined to that point, Aberdeen briefly lost their shape. Hatate’s shot was parried by Mitov. This time Nygren fired high into the stand.
Unmarked as he attacked Nygren’s deep corner, Liam Scales ought to have at least hit the target.
The Dons were now finding it hard to pose much of a threat. Cameron Carter-Vickers did well to cut out one attack, though, when he stretched to prevent Yengi’s ball from releasing Aouchiche.
Yengi’s half would end with home supporters increasingly exasperated with his contribution.
Topi Keskinen nutmegged Alistair Johnston and played the forward in. A complete miscue saw the ball roll harmlessly behind for a goal kick. Yengi lasted just 10 minutes of the second half before being replaced by Ester Sokler.
There was more aggression from Thelin’s side after the turnaround. Nilsen took things a little too far by taking out Nygren and earning the game’s first booking from referee John Beaton. Scales soon joined him in the book for a senseless scything of Sokler.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers mysteriously went ‘tie-less’ at Pittodrie, prompting speculation
For all Aberdeen’s efforts, they didn’t provide nearly enough moments of quality in the final third. Even when not at their best, Celtic fashioned enough of them to get the job done with something to spare.
Everything about the second goal was delightful. Callum McGregor found James Forrest, who picked out Nygren. The Swede had the time and composure to square the ball for Hatate.
The midfielder dragged the ball from his left foot to his right and beat Mitov all ends up with a peach of a strike which clipped the underside of the crossbar.
Celtic might well have won by more. Maeda looked certain to add a third until he slipped just as was figuring out the best way to beat the advancing Mitov. Johnston crashed another strike into the side net. Ultimately, it did not matter.
Aberdeen (4-2-3-1): Mitov 5.5; Jensen 6, Dorrington 6, Milne 6, Devlin 6; Shinnie 5.5 (Polvara 73), Nilsen 5.5; Milanovic 7 (Boyd 73) Aouchiche 6.5, Keskinen 6 (Morris 73); Yengi 4 (Sokler 55). Booked: Nilsen, Devlin. Manager: Jimmy Thelin 5.
Celtic (4-3-3): Schmeichel 7; Johnston 6.5 (Ralston 88), Carter-Vickers 7, Scales 7, Tierney 8 (Trusty 67); McGregor 7, Hatate 7 (McCowan 78), Nygren 7.5; Forrest 7 (Engels 78), Idah 6 (Yamada 67), Maeda 6.5. Booked: Scales, Hatate, McGregor. Manager: Brendan Rodgers 7.5.
Referee: John Beaton 7.
Attendance: 18,388.
