Aberdeen’s bubble continues to burst as the Pittodrie club falls further behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership after their latest draw with St Johnstone.
Ever since Celtic battered Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final last month, Jimmy Thelin’s side have won just one game in six Scottish Premiership matches as the wheels come off their title challenge.
With Celtic beating Hibs at Parkhead and continuing their impressive winning run since the Bhoys drew with Aberdeen in October, a nine-point gap from the second-placed side.
However, explaining another poor result, the Aberdeen boss mentions Celtic three times and it seems chasing the champions is weighing heavily on Thelin and his players.
Jimmy Thelin talks Celtic after Aberdeen’s draw with St Johnstone
Thelin told BBC Radio Scotland [51m 5s], “I think our performance was not the level we want. And we don’t get out with the same intensity that we did against Celtic. And we have to find a way back to get more stable in our performance between the games.
“Because we have been a little bit up and down now. And the only way to do that is to live this moment, to get used to this moment with a lot of games because we want to play a lot of games.
“So we need to find a way to get used to it and find a more consistent level of performance during a longer-term period.
Jimmy Thelin thinks relentless Celtic have made Aberdeen tired
Asked if he could explain the ‘lack of energy’ Aberdeen seem to be suffering from, Thelin continued, “Yeah, I think the Celtic game was really good in the form of the energy and we felt really well prepared before the game but then didn’t get out really. And I think every team get this period of the year in the season.
“We have a really good start of the season. Now we have some games that haven’t been perfect maybe, but that’s football.
“And now we just need to go out on the training pitch to find the rhythm again and the right dynamics and be ready for the next game against Hibernian.
And when pressed if he could ‘put his finger on’ why Aberdeen are looking out of energy, Thelin said, “It’s football. And sometimes it’s probably different reasons, but I think we didn’t really find a way to recover quick enough to get out against Celtic. And it’s not only about fitness sometimes, it’s also about mental capacity.
“And it’s just to live this moment and try to use, try to keep believing and be strong in your convictions, how you want to play, stay true to your identity.
“And during the season, you always have good periods, some tougher periods, and that’s how we manage this one and get out on the other side. That’s the most important thing.”
It seems now, that the buzz of chasing Celtic has been smacked out of Aberdeen after the League Cup loss and the 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie.
The realisation that the current Scottish champions have a squad that is deep enough to cope with the relentless fixtures has possibly set in a realisation for Aberdeen that they don’t have enough resources to catch and keep up with Celtic.
Aberdeen don’t have another fixture until the 21st of December so will have time to rest and relax whilst Celtic take on Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and Rangers in the League Cup final.
But that is unlikely to make any difference and now they have to worry about Rangers who are creeping up slowly to nab second place in the league behind Celtic.
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