‘Nothing wrong’: Rodgers shares what he told his Celtic players after Liam Scales and Auston Trusty call…

Celtic have advanced to the Scottish League Cup final with ease.

Considering Aberdeen’s strong season start and their recent 2-2 draw at Parkhead, many Celtic supporters—and perhaps Brendan Rodgers himself—anticipated a much more challenging match at Hampden.

Though kick-off was delayed, Celtic wasted no time, delivering a dominant performance and scoring six against the team currently seen as Scotland’s second-best.

One notable choice Rodgers made before the game was to start Auston Trusty, a summer signing, in place of Liam Scales. Scales had featured in the previous Aberdeen match but, despite his solid form this season, was moved to the bench. Trusty joined Cameron Carter-Vickers, who opened the scoring, at the center of defense, and they cruised through the game without difficulty.

Rodgers emphasized pressing high against Aberdeen, even acknowledging that Scales hadn’t done anything to deserve being dropped—it was a tactical decision. Rodgers saw Trusty’s speed as a crucial asset, instructing his players to press effectively and cut off Aberdeen’s offensive supply.

Rodgers explained that Aberdeen’s forwards can exploit spaces well if there’s no pressure on the ball, making Trusty’s quickness vital for stopping potential breakthroughs. Trusty’s inclusion was intended to counter Aberdeen’s penetrative runs and to support Celtic’s high defensive line.

Rodgers praised Scales as an important player who has contributed significantly this season, noting that this choice was purely tactical.

Upcoming Fixtures for Celtic:

Carter-Vickers played an hour as he continues to build his fitness. Given his past injury concerns, Celtic’s packed schedule offers Rodgers plenty of opportunity to rotate and manage his squad, especially among center-backs.

With high-stakes games coming up, including a Champions League match against RB Leipzig on Tuesday and an encounter with Club Brugge later in the month amidst league fixtures, Rodgers has plenty of chances to give his players adequate game time without overexerting them.