Sport Nation 2After Aberdeen secured a 2-2 draw against Celtic in their Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park, the footballing world has turned its focus to whether Aberdeen can genuinely challenge Celtic for the title this season. Under the leadership of Swedish manager Jimmy Thelin, Aberdeen has shown a resurgence, and many are now discussing the team as serious contenders for the league.
Despite Aberdeen’s strong performance, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers remains cautious. He believes it is too early in the season to declare Thelin’s side as title contenders, despite their unbeaten start. “It’s still early,” Rodgers said, pointing out that the dynamics of the season could change, especially with the busy winter period ahead.
Following the match, former Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton shared his thoughts with Robbie Savage on BBC 606. When asked by Savage whether he believed Aberdeen could win the league, Sutton was firm in his response: “I think Celtic will win the league.”
Sutton, a former Celtic player himself, acknowledged the challenges Aberdeen has posed but remained confident that Celtic’s experience and resources would see them through to another title. He emphasized that while Aberdeen has made great strides under Thelin, Celtic still has the largest budget in the Scottish Premiership, which plays a significant role in their continued dominance.
“Rob, you’re not as familiar with Scottish football as I am,” Sutton said, before elaborating on Aberdeen’s impressive rise. “The whole Aberdeen story, the size of the club, where Aberdeen were last season, bottom half finish. For this guy [Thelin] to come in and to get a tune out of the team, Rob, and bearing in mind they sold their best player, Miovski, for £7 million, who scored a barrow load of goals for them last season.”
Sutton’s praise for Thelin’s managerial skills was evident, as he highlighted how the coach has managed to inject belief into the Aberdeen squad, transforming them into genuine challengers for the top spots. Despite losing key players, Thelin has maintained the team’s momentum, and their performance against Celtic was proof of that.
Aberdeen’s comeback in the game was particularly impressive. Celtic had taken a 2-0 lead, and many expected them to cruise to victory. However, Thelin made bold tactical changes that allowed his team to claw their way back into the game. Sutton mentioned speaking to people who were at the game and said that there were over 10 minutes of injury time, during which Aberdeen had a goal disallowed. Despite the setback, the match demonstrated the team’s grit and determination.
Sutton’s admiration for Aberdeen’s efforts was clear, but he still believes Celtic’s resources and experience will ultimately see them through. He stated, “Celtic have the biggest budget when they go into European competition. People talk about the smaller budget, but do you know what, Rob? I’m absolutely delighted for Aberdeen because they are a big club.”
While Sutton praised Aberdeen’s progress, he didn’t downplay the difficulty of maintaining such form throughout the season. “They started the season strongly, but everybody was looking at this game, the acid test,” he said. Aberdeen’s ability to come back from two goals down and push Celtic all the way in such a high-pressure game was a testament to their quality, but Sutton still thinks it’s too early to label them as title contenders.
The context of Aberdeen’s rise adds weight to the discussion. Last season, Aberdeen finished in the bottom half of the table, a position that would hardly have anyone tipping them for a title challenge. However, with Thelin at the helm, they have become a force to be reckoned with.
Sutton went on to say, “What courage from the manager to make those changes and come back. And by all accounts, I’ve spoken to a couple of people who were at the game. They could have nicked it, created chances, Celtic had other chances. What a game. And it’s brilliant for Scottish football.”
Aberdeen’s resurgence is being seen as a positive for Scottish football as a whole. For years, the Scottish Premiership has largely been a two-horse race between Celtic and Rangers. The possibility of another team breaking into the upper echelons of the league is exciting for neutral fans and could make for a more competitive season.
However, as Sutton pointed out, Celtic and Rangers remain the dominant forces in Scottish football, and Aberdeen will need to prove that they can maintain their form over the long season. “It’s not just Celtic and Rangers at the moment. Aberdeen are serious contenders,” Sutton said, but with just eight games played, he acknowledged it’s too early to declare them a legitimate title threat.
The challenges facing Aberdeen are clear. Their squad depth will be tested, particularly during the busy Christmas period when injuries and fatigue can take their toll on even the strongest teams. Celtic, with their greater financial resources and deeper squad, are better equipped to handle the rigors of a full season. Aberdeen, on the other hand, will need to avoid serious injuries and maintain their form if they are to continue competing at the top end of the table.
Despite the excitement surrounding Aberdeen’s rise, Celtic remains the favorite to retain their title. Brendan Rodgers and his squad will not be taking anything for granted, but they remain confident that they will emerge victorious by the season’s end. As Sutton noted, “The league trophy will still be sitting in the Celtic Park trophy cabinet come the end of the season.”
While Aberdeen’s impressive start to the season has earned them plenty of admirers, they still have a long way to go if they are to dethrone Celtic. The next few months will be crucial in determining whether they can maintain their momentum and genuinely challenge for the title. For now, the Scottish Premiership remains Celtic’s to lose, but Aberdeen’s resurgence has injected fresh excitement into the competition, setting up what promises to be an intriguing season ahead.
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