Manager: We showed real quality in our five goals against Aberdeen | OneFootball

Celtic returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Aberdeen, a result which extends the Hoops’ lead at the top of the Premiership table to 16 points.

It was an emphatic return to winning ways for Brendan Rodgers’ side following their weekend defeat to Hibernian, and the Celtic manager was pleased with the victory.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, he said: “It was a very good result for us and there were lots of moments within the game where we showed real quality in the goals and a big effort by the team, so it was a very good result.

“I said to the boys at half-time that, obviously, the goals were very good but it was wee bit similar to the League Cup semi-final where we were 3-0 up, scored very good goals but we weren’t there in our pressing.

“And I can understand it because we’ve played relentlessly for three-and-a-half months so we’re going to have periods within games where we’re just not quite there, but in the second-half we controlled much of the game, the pitch was much shorter for us and we scored two more outstanding goals.”

Daizen Maeda continued what has been an outstanding season by opening and finishing the scoring on the night, his two goals taking his tally for the season to an incredible 25 already.

Over and above his goals contribution, the manager praised his attitude and application, while there was also praise for Arne Engels who produced a Man of the Match performance in the heart of the Celtic midfield.

“Daizen’s a real symbol of the team in what I want – his pressing, his honesty, his humility, and then his quality and his hunger to want to score goals,” Brendan Rodgers said.

“Wherever he plays he will score goals, whether he plays wide or he’s central, but his contribution this season has been incredible.

“Arne’s intensity and his familiarity now with the team and how we play is there. He has comfort in that and just his work-rate and quality is such a high level, so I’m really pleased for him.

“We want to go right to the very end, we always want to score goals and score as many as we can, and you see that ambition in the team tonight with the 5-1 scoreline.”

Fixtures

Celtic Vs. Aberdeen - Tue, Feb 25th 2025, 20:00 Final score: 5 - 1