‘Madness’… Graeme Shinnie reacts to what ‘people’ are saying about Aberdeen’s challenge to Celtic

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic’s title defence has been fairly straightforward this season as Brendan Rodgers remains unbeaten domestically.

With Rangers eleven points behind Celtic in third place, the usual title challenge that generally comes from Ibrox is currently non-existent.

Aberdeen have been doing their best to keep up with Celtic and, prior to losing to St Mirren on Saturday, were making a decent fist of it.

Now no longer unbeaten, it seems that the Pittodrie club’s bubble has burst but it seems that is not a view shared by Aberdeen captain, Graeme Shinnie.

Aberdeen ‘can’t control’ scrutiny of challenge on Celtic

Shinnie seems to be in a defiant mood and has hit back at what he’s been hearing people say about Aberdeen’s title challenge to Celtic.

Shinnie told the Press & Journal, “People will talk, it’s the way it goes.

“It’s a long season. People talk about title challenges in October and November – which is madness.

“It’s so early because within five games it can look very different if you get carried away.

“I know it’s not what people want to hear and it’s boring but things can change very quickly if you let yourself get carried away.

“In-house we are just focused on getting back to winning ways and letting the outside noise be as it is.

“There will always be the scrutiny of ‘can Aberdeen keep it up?’ – that’s not something we can control and is natural in football.”

Aberdeen ‘not trying to put pressure on Celtic’

“I wouldn’t say we’re trying to put pressure on Celtic,” continued Shinnie, “It’s about winning as many games as we can and picking up points.

“We have opened up a gap below us so we don’t want to lose that – we want to build on that.

“It’s up to us to carry that pressure, that’s what it’s like being at this club.

“Whether it was last season when we were underperforming, or this season when we’re up at the top end of the league.

“There is always pressure at clubs like this – whatever you do.”

Aberdeen face Hibs in the capital tonight knowing that if they do want to remain in a fight for the title then they cannot afford to drop any more points.

With Celtic on Champions League duty against Club Brugge tomorrow, The Dons could draw level again at the top of the Scottish Premiership with an Easter Road win.

However, anything less than three points on the road for Aberdeen means one thing for Shinnie’s club. No matter what he thinks about talk of a title race in November, it will be over for them if Hibs take something at Easter Road.