BRENDAN RODGERS is convinced his Celtic players will have learned after being punished for taking their eye off the ball in the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen at Parkhead a fortnight ago.
The unbeaten teams go head to head in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at Hampden tomorrow night and the Irishman reckons lessons have been learned from the previous encounter.
The champions were coasting two goals ahead at the interval following strikes from Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi, but they were caught unprepared for the Dons reply early in the second-half.
The visitors pulled it back to 2-2 and, despite overwhelming pressure from the home side after their wake-up call, Jimmy Thelin’s men held out to go home with a valuable point.
Reflecting on the stalemate that impacted on his team’s 100 per cent start to the domestic campaign, Rodgers said: “It’s a game we should have won.
“We were 2-0 up and had other chances and we got punished for our slackness in the first 15/20 minutes of the second-half.
“That showed us that if you are slack and not concentrated and committed in your defending, they have quality players who can hurt you. When we pressed the game really well, we created opportunities and could dominate the ball.
“When we didn’t, if you look at the first goal we conceded, standard of pressing wasn’t at our level. Whether that was because it was just after half-time or not, I don’t know.
“But it certainly wasn’t at the standard we would expect and want.
“If you do that against good, technical players who can run in behind, then that can hurt you. That gave them momentum for the next 15 minutes or so.
“That has to be a learning for us and it will be. Last 20 minutes, we had chances to win, but we also know that we need to play very well to reach the Final.”
Asked about the resurgence of the Dons, Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, answered: “Yeah, I think it is brilliant. I think it’s great.
“Whether it is football, or whether it is business, any competition is healthy and it’s what makes you better. You will always drive your own standards and your own standard of performance, absolutely.
“But competition is really, really healthy and can keep moving you forward.”
The Hoops gaffer admitted he was not surprised and commented: “It’s a great credit to them. In their first 10 league games, they have played with that consistency and done really well, have really good players.
“Jimmy has done a fantastic job and good coaching staff behind the scenes, too. I always expect Aberdeen because of my first time up here to be up there challenging.
Images courtesy Celtic TV.
“In Derek McInnes’ time, he had a great period. So, I always expect them to be there, so to see them is not a surprise, they are playing very well.”
Rodgers won the league and Scottish Cup double in his comeback campaign, but were knocked out of the League Cup in only the third game of his return when the holders lost 1-0 to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
He added: “It was one that eluded us last year and that didn’t sit comfortably with us.
“So, we have a chance now and that’s what we want. We look to bring our game to a good surface and play our football.
“It’s been a great joy to go there, but I’ve always treated it like it’s my first time. That’s been my mindset.
“I’m excited about being there and seeing half the stadium full of Celtic supporters and with either the opportunity to win a Final or get to a Final.”
