Celtic widened their gap at the summit of the Scottish Premiership to 16 points, at least temporarily, with a commanding 5-1 victory over Aberdeen at Parkhead on Tuesday night.
Daizen Maeda netted twice, while Callum McGregor, Jota, and Hyun-jun Yang each added a goal, ensuring the Scottish giants claimed all three points in Glasgow.
Portuguese forward Jota has made a sensational return to life in the city after re-joining Celtic on a permanent deal from Rennes during the January transfer window.
The right-footed star has been in fine form, contributing three goals, two ‘big chances’ created, and one assist in three starts and five total Premiership appearances this month.
While Jota shone on the left wing for the Bhoys, Nicolas Kuhn struggled on the opposite flank, delivering a performance that left manager Brendan Rodgers unimpressed.
Nicolas Kuhn’s performance against Aberdeen:
The German winger was deployed on the right side of the front three, with Maeda central and Jota on the left. Kuhn was closely marked during his 59 minutes on the pitch, often forced to pass backward to Alistair Johnston or a center-back after receiving the ball under pressure in his own half.
Although Kuhn completed three of his four attempted dribbles when given the opportunity to take on his marker, he lacked end product in the final third.
Despite Celtic’s five-goal haul, Kuhn was not directly involved in any of them, finishing the match without a goal or an assist for the third consecutive Premiership game.
Last three Premiership appearances:
| Nicolas Kuhn | Vs Dundee Utd | Vs Hibs | Vs Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 19 | 90 | 59 |
| Goals + assists | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shots on target | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Key passes | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Big chances created | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Possession lost | 3x | 24x | 11x |
Stats via Sofascore
As the table illustrates, Kuhn has struggled to make an impact in his last three league outings, failing to register a shot on target or create a ‘big chance.’
Despite his 18 goals and 12 assists across all competitions this season, the forward has been below his best in recent weeks, and Rodgers will be eager to see him rediscover his form soon.
However, one Celtic player performed even worse than Kuhn on Tuesday night: Auston Trusty.
Auston Trusty’s performance against Aberdeen:
The USA international started at left center-back alongside compatriot Cameron Carter-Vickers, with Johnston at right-back and Jeffrey Schlupp to his left. Trusty was dominant in the air, winning all six of his aerial duels, but his performance on the ground was far from convincing.
Aberdeen exploited his lapses in possession multiple times, with Trusty twice losing the ball while attempting to dribble past opposition forwards, leading to dangerous counterattacks.
Two notable incidents occurred late in the match: first, he was dispossessed by Shayden Morris on the halfway line, allowing the Aberdeen forward to go one-on-one, though he failed to score. Second, Trusty failed to track Pape Gueye’s run into the right channel, leading to Morris’s goal.
These errors highlighted Trusty’s struggles, making him the weakest link on the night, even compared to Kuhn, who, while ineffective, did not make any glaring mistakes.
Despite completing 117 passes and registering 131 touches—more than star midfielder Arne Engels (77)—Trusty’s nervy moments gave Aberdeen several opportunities to score, raising concerns about his reliability.
Here are the key points highlighting Auston Trusty’s underperformance against Aberdeen:
- Aerial Dominance but Ground Struggles:
- Trusty won all six of his aerial duels, showcasing his strength in the air.
- However, his performance on the ground was far from perfect, with several lapses in possession.
- Costly Mistakes in Possession:
- Aberdeen caught him out multiple times when he attempted to dribble past opposition forwards, leading to dangerous counterattacks.
- Two notable incidents:
- He was dispossessed by Shayden Morris on the halfway line, leading to a one-on-one chance (though Morris failed to score).
- He failed to track Pape Gueye’s run into the right channel, which resulted in Morris scoring.
- Nervy Moments and Lack of Reliability:
- Trusty’s errors in possession created several nervy moments, giving Aberdeen opportunities to score.
- His lapses in concentration were a significant concern, especially after being at fault for one of the goals in the 2-1 defeat to Hibernian the previous weekend.
- High Touches but Ineffective Impact:
- Trusty completed 117 passes and had 131 touches, more than star midfielder Arne Engels (77).
- Despite his involvement, his mistakes overshadowed his contributions, making him a liability in defense.
- Comparison with Liam Scales:
- Scales has been more reliable this season, with fewer errors (1 error leading to a shot vs. Trusty’s 4) and a higher duel success rate (74% vs. Trusty’s 64%).
- Scales’ consistency and experience make him a better option to replace Trusty in the starting lineup.
- Call for Dropping Trusty:
- Rodgers should consider dropping Trusty for the next game against St Mirren to address defensive vulnerabilities.
- Scales or Dane Murray could be viable replacements to provide stability in defense.
These points underscore Trusty’s struggles and the need for improvement or a change in the lineup.
Why Celtic should drop Auston Trusty:
Given his performance, Rodgers should consider dropping Trusty for Celtic’s upcoming clash with St Mirren. The center-back’s lapses in concentration, particularly in possession, have been costly, including in the 2-1 defeat to Hibernian last weekend, where he was at fault for one of the goals.
Rodgers has alternatives in the squad, such as the experienced Liam Scales, a natural left-footer, or academy graduate Dane Murray, who could step in to replace Trusty.
24/25 Premiership stats comparison:
| Auston Trusty | Liam Scales |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 18 |
| Tackles + interceptions per game | 2.5 |
| Dribbled past per game | 0.5x |
| Error led to shot | 4 |
| Error led to goal | 1 |
| Duel success rate | 64% |
Stats via Sofascore
As the table shows, Scales has been more reliable than Trusty this season, committing fewer errors in more appearances. These stats suggest Scales could be the ideal replacement for Trusty against St Mirren, potentially providing the American with the motivation to improve his performances.
Scales, who was named in last season’s Premiership Team of the Year, has demonstrated his quality as a center-back, making him the logical choice to step in and solidify Celtic’s defense.
