Celtic centre-back Auston Trusty has reflected on how Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Aberdeen served as a timely wake-up call for the team ahead of their Champions League encounter with Atalanta.
Trusty believes the disappointing result against the Dons sharpened Celtic’s focus, helping them deliver a solid defensive display in their 0-0 draw in Bergamo on Wednesday night.
The Hoops showcased impressive resilience against the Serie A side, frustrating last season’s Europa League winners and securing a valuable point on the road.
Kasper Schmeichel was influential between the posts, but it was Trusty’s standout performance at the heart of defence that caught the eye, silencing his critics with a composed and assured display.
After the match, Trusty took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the travelling Celtic support before addressing the media about the team’s recent turnaround in form. He admitted that the dropped points against Aberdeen provided a vital lesson.
“This past weekend, we should have won that game very easily, but we took the foot off the gas,” Trusty explained to The Celtic Way.
“It was an easy game in the first half, up 2-0, and then they ended up coming back. It’s almost kind of a blessing that that game happened because it woke us up.
“We need to go, every single moment, no matter what game it is. We’re playing these games at that certain level to prepare for these Champions League games. That’s just the mindset.
“It was kind of a wake-up call for us this weekend. We can’t take it easy because our mindset is for the Champions League games, and we need to perform at this level.”
Trusty’s commanding display in Bergamo felt like a defining moment for the 26-year-old in Celtic colours. Many felt he was unlucky to miss out on UEFA’s Player of the Match award, but the American’s contribution didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates or supporters.
While the Hoops will take pride in their European result, attention now shifts back to the domestic front.
Celtic face consecutive league matches against Motherwell and Dundee before taking on Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final next weekend. Only after that can they set their sights on their next Champions League challenge.