Celtic’s players are gearing up for a crucial Champions League match against RB Leipzig at Parkhead, with Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie’s words of admiration following their recent encounter echoing in their minds. Shinnie and his Aberdeen teammates were overpowered in a 6-0 defeat in the League Cup semi-final, where Celtic’s dominance was on full display. That victory also set the stage for a highly anticipated all-Glasgow final on December 15, as Rangers beat Motherwell 2-1 to secure their spot.
While the focus shifts to the Bundesliga side for the Hoops, Shinnie, despite his disappointment, offered praise for Brendan Rodgers’ team. For Aberdeen, the defeat was a tough pill to swallow, marking their first loss in 17 games. Reflecting on the match, Shinnie said, “This will hurt for a few days, but once you get over it, it’s about moving on.” Acknowledging Celtic’s quality, he stressed that his team needed to be “more resilient” and “fight more” to avoid similar outcomes.
The Aberdeen captain noted the contrast between the League Cup defeat and their earlier draw at Celtic Park, emphasizing that allowing Celtic to play to their strengths leads to punishment. “We just didn’t turn up at all…Celtic were very good on the day and we weren’t,” Shinnie admitted, adding that Celtic’s ability to dictate play exposed their own lack of resilience.
Shinnie continued to praise Celtic’s cohesive movement and sharp rotations on the pitch, pointing out that while Aberdeen didn’t match their energy, Celtic executed their game plan flawlessly. He was particularly frustrated by the manner of the goals conceded, especially from a set-piece, calling it a lapse that fueled Celtic’s momentum while Aberdeen struggled to respond. “After the set-piece went in, they gained a lot of confidence, and we went the opposite way,” Shinnie observed, admitting Celtic “strolled” through the remainder of the game.
Despite the disappointment, Shinnie viewed the experience as a lesson in resilience and preparation, emphasizing that high-profile matches demand intensity from both sides. With his focus now shifting to the league, he remains optimistic about Aberdeen’s strong standing but acknowledges that, to compete with Celtic, his team will need to up their level of play.
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