How ‘refreshing’ Aberdeen ‘spooked’ Celtic in thrilling 2-2 draw

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers felt his side contributed to their own second-half downfall.

Jamie McGrath’s excellent through ball split Celtic’s central defence as Ester Sokler reduced the arrears before Graeme Shinnie’s deflected effort levelled after Daizen Maeda gifted possession to the visitors.

“We got punished for being careless, I felt, in that 10-minute period,” Rodgers said.

“We had good control in the first half, should have been more in front and then, probably around about that 50th minute to the 60th minute, a little bit passive without the ball, lacked aggression.”

Rodgers pointed out that “really good defending and goalkeeping” prevented a Celtic winner despite “32 shots or something at goal”.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be perfect, coming on the back of all the guys travelling around the world and coming back in together, but I would expect us to see that game through,” he said, referencing international fatigue.

Rodgers, nevertheless, praised Thelin for a double change at half-time, with Sokler scoring with virtually his first touch of the ball.

“You have to give them a big credit for that, and Jimmy and his team, they’re well coached, well organised and the changes worked for him,” he said.

“But, when I look at it from our perspective, he doesn’t get the through ball at all if our press is right.”