All week, the Celtic vs Aberdeen fixture was billed as the game of the season, with two unbeaten sides clashing for the first time this campaign.
Celtic seemed to be cruising towards victory by half-time, dominating proceedings and looking set to put the game out of sight after storming to a 2-0 lead.
Brendan Rodgers’ side had the upper hand in the first 45 minutes, applying relentless pressure on Aberdeen. However, football is rarely straightforward. Emerging from the tunnel a revitalised outfit, the Dons stunned Celtic Park in the second half with a spirited fightback.
In just ten minutes, Aberdeen drew level, scoring twice to secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Dons boss Jimmy Thelin later revealed the simple yet effective message he gave his players at half-time, which galvanised them to pull off such an impressive comeback.
Jimmy Thelin’s ‘calm down’ message sparks revival at Celtic Park:
Despite starting brightly, Aberdeen couldn’t prevent Reo Hatate from breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute.
Soon after, Celtic doubled their advantage, leaving Thelin’s men facing an uphill battle. But the Aberdeen manager’s composed approach during the interval proved crucial in turning things around.
Speaking to BBC Sportsound, Thelin shared what went on in the dressing room:
“It was a really emotional game. We said at half-time, we have to calm down a little and come back to our strategy. We needed to find a way and to do that was to be a little more true to ourselves.
“I think we have an amazing squad and team spirit. We have had some late winners this season, showing our never-give-in mentality. Also, the away support helped us to get this energy.
“These games are important and difficult. They are going to test us in every area of our game. The most important thing is that we stick together inside games and find ways to perform well. I’m happy with that.
“We only focus on the next game. We don’t focus on what happened already or the future. We now re-focus our energy for the game against Dundee United at Pittodrie.
“This support, we need it every game. We may have hard times and also good times. Togetherness is the most important thing.”
Celtic’s next hurdles in the Scottish Premiership:
Returning from the international break, Celtic struggled to shake off the rustiness, and the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen has given Rodgers much to ponder. While his side must also prepare for a crucial European fixture against Atalanta, there is little respite in the league.
The Hoops face a tricky away fixture at Motherwell next Sunday, followed by a home clash with Dundee just three days later. Both opponents sit comfortably in the top six, meaning Rodgers will have to be wary of dropping more points in the domestic race.
If Celtic falter again, they risk giving both Aberdeen and Rangers an opportunity to close the gap. With the next international break looming, Rodgers will be desperate for his side to rediscover their rhythm and avoid any further setbacks.
Aberdeen’s resilience at Parkhead serves as a reminder that the Premiership title race may not be the two-horse affair many predicted. If Rodgers doesn’t steady the ship soon, Celtic could find themselves under real pressure from their closest rivals before the campaign enters the winter period.