Michael Stewart says Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic call a ‘compliment’ to Aberdeen amid 6-0 thrashing

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Brendan Rodgers walked Celtic to yet another final.

There was a lot of noise around Celtic’s Scottish League Cup semi-final clash against Aberdeen because the duo are level on points in the Premiership.

But never in a million years would you have guessed that Scotland’s two top teams were going head-to-head at Hampden over the weekend.

Celtic dispatched the Dons for six, which was further proof that the champions are miles ahead of the rest in the country.

Before the game, Rodgers made some big calls to his XI, and you sense, he was also factoring the 2-2 draw at Parkhead in the league.

That proved the respect the Celtic boss had for the second-best team in Scotland because he knew this was the team’s biggest challenge yet.

Auston Trusty Celtic selection a ‘compliment’ to Aberdeen

Despite Liam Scales doing nothing wrong for Celtic, he was benched for the semi-final clash and Auston Trusty stood alongside opening goalscorer Cameron Carter-Vickers.

In truth, the duo didn’t really break a sweat, but Michael Stewart feels that this was Rodgers thinking about the opposition more than ever before.

The Premier Sports (02/11/24) pundit added that it was a ‘compliment’ to Aberdeen and he still expects Scales to play a ‘big part’ for Celtic.

“Aberdeen should take that as a compliment,” said Stewart. “It’s not saying Brendan Rodgers never pays attention to the opposition. He always is.

“But the focus is primarily on what Celtic can do to hurt them. What he is showing there is that he is thinking about this Aberdeen side are a real threat and he just wants to mitigate it. That’s what the squad is there for.

“There is no doubt that Liam Scales is going to have a big, big part to play for Celtic.”

Why Trusty started ahead of Scales for Celtic against Aberdeen

First of all, it shows the depth in quality Celtic now have at the back because the centre-back spot isn’t the only position in the team were there is serious competition.

Greg Taylor and Alex Valle are vying for starts at left-back, the midfield is packed with talent and there are two goalscorers worthy of leading the line regularly.

This is further proof of how this team under Rodgers is growing, with the boss explaining his call to start Trusty over Scales.

Aberdeen’s threat in behind – which they showcased during the league meeting – played a huge factor and how the American is just quicker than his teammate, as the Irishman told Premier Sports.

“I felt that Auston, with those through balls, he is super quick and if you are going to play a high line,” said Rodgers.

“The runs and penetration that Aberdeen make, that pace is important. Scales has done nothing wrong. He is very valued. You just sometimes have to make these decisions.”