The Celtic fans have been enjoying a storming start to the season so far after watching Brendan Rodgers’ team dismantle opponents in the Scottish Premiership and the Champions League.
Five wins out of five with no goals conceded in the league and a 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava has given the Celtic supporters some real optimism about defending the title and making progress in Europe’s top competition.
However, Celtic are being closely pursued by an Aberdeen side who have been resurgent under new boss, Jimmy Thelin.
The Dons are also unbeaten in the league and sit just behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table on goal difference.
Whether or not they can maintain a title challenge is one thing but Kevin Gallacher says the Aberdeen camp will be confident that they can split Celtic and Rangers this season.
The ‘tall order’ of splitting Celtic and Rangers
The former Scotland striker has been impressed with Thelin’s side this season and he reckons the Swede will back himself to lead the Pittodrie club to second place.
Gallacher wrote in his column in The Sunday Post [print edition page 64], “It has been brilliant to see the start Aberdeen have made to their league season.
“To see another team up there challenging at the top of the table has been really refreshing. We all saw how they struggled last season, so to be sitting where they are now with five league wins from five games is a phenomenal achievement.
“Of course, going forward, there will be questions as to how well they can cope when the strength in depth of the squad is tested by injuries and suspensions.
“Right now, they are on the crest of a wave and will feel they can win every game. In those circumstances, the games cannot come quickly enough for them.
“Can they split Celtic and Rangers? It is a tall order, but I bet that is the challenge they are setting themselves.
“The manager will be saying we are up there now, can we continue to better these teams? They have done something different by going to the continent to get themselves a new manager.
“It brought the element of surprise, introduced a new culture and a new tactical outlook which is working well.”
Celtic’s Aberdeen challenge
Indeed, the last time Celtic faced a challenge from Aberdeen for the title was during the Ronny Deila years.
But even then Celtic still managed to finish 17 points ahead in 2015 and 15 points in 2016 on their way to a second nine in a row.
Can Aberdeen really challenge Celtic for the title? In all honesty, they will know themselves just how difficult a task that is looking at the squad Rodgers has assembled and how Celtic are playing right now.
But to challenge for second place is another argument altogether. Aberdeen will need a bit of luck and avoid injuries to key players but in football, you just never know.
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