Jimmy Thelin responds to Alan Shearer’s comments about Aberdeen being ‘serious’ challengers to Celtic

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One of the stories of the season so far is Aberdeen’s ability to keep pace with Celtic at the top end of the Scottish Premiership table.

The Dons, like the Bhoys, have won six games from six at the start of the league campaign to amass 18 points. They are only second due to an inferior goal difference.

Inevitably, the form has raised discussion about their ability to truly compete for silverware in Scotland this season.

Alan Shearer weighed into the debate earlier this week, stating that Jimmy Thelin’s side are ‘serious’ contenders for the title and can take advantage of Celtic’s Champions League exertions. [Daily Record]

Thelin has been a bit more diplomatic and measured in response, attempting to calm the hype that the Pittodrie club are in a title race.

Aberdeen boss waves away talk of title battle with Celtic

In a press conference on Friday, he said: “I can understand the discussion but how many games do we have left in the league now? So you see there are a lot of points left.

“It is really early and we are not focusing on that. We aren’t focusing on that. We can only focus on being better and trying to play the games and now what is happening in May. It is so far away.

“You have to keep this hunger to always improve and evolve to do better things. You can never think we know everything and we are so good. We need to keep improving. The trick is to keep improving and to get better all the time. That isn’t so easy.

“There are a lot of things at a football club and an opponent can change parts. So far so good. Everybody the way they train, they are so prepared for training sessions.”

We’ll know a lot more about Aberdeen later this month

Thelin’s side have yet to be truly tested in the Premiership. They haven’t faced Celtic or Rangers as of yet.

However, they visit Celtic Park on 19th October and then host Philippe Clement’s team at Pittodrie on 30th October, so we’ll soon know if they are serious contenders or just a team on a short-term hot streak.

If they come through those tests unscathed, then the hype may overtake Thelin’s attempts to calm things down.

Their run so far has been a welcome talking point in Scottish football, but let’s see if they can sustain it or if reality bites hard.