“Brendan Rodgers Blasts Aberdeen Boss jimmy thelin Over ‘Unacceptable’ Comments”

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin admitted the performance from his side was unacceptable as the Dons collapsed for the second time in four days.

The 4-0 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday was followed up by a 5-1 thrashing from a heavily changed Celtic side, with Brendan Rodgers having rested key players ahead of the Scottish Cup Final against the Reds.

Eight changes were made by the visitors and they still dominated the clash at Pittodrie, with any hope of Aberdeen finishing third in the Premiership dashed after Hibs picked up a point against St Mirren

They now face a shootout with Dundee United for fourth on Saturday, with the Terrors three points behind but boasting a better goal difference.

Reflecting on the defeat, Thelin said: “As a manager I have to think now about what we can do now, along with the players, to be better against Celtic in two weeks.

“First we have to put our focus to Dundee United on Saturday – it’s an important game for Europe.

Myself and the staff and the players have spoken about it in the dressing room, and of course it is not acceptable – even if Celtic is a really strong team – to lose five goals at home, at Pittodrie, is something we cannot do again.

“Celtic is a good team and today when they arrived in the last third, they’re really sharp and it’s more how we can help ourselves to deny those situations.

“They were really good and we have to believe we can find the situations in the final, but for now we have to focus on Dundee United.”

Maik Nawrocki opened the scoring in the first-half, with Kevin Nisbet replying late in the first 45 before Yang Hyun-Jun restoring Celtic’s lead in the seventh minute of added on time.

The Hoops then ran riot with Luke McCowan and Johnny Kenny – making his first start for the club – extending their lead to 4-1 inside the first 10 minutes of the second-half before Adam Idah bagged the fifth in the 94th minute.

Aberdeen had played the closing stages with 10 men after Spurs loanee Alfie Dorrington saw red for two bookings, the latter being for a late foul on Idah.

But it was Pape Gueye’s challenge on Reo Hatate, who was forced off injured and had an ice pack just below his knee, that irked the Celtic manager.

Rodgers said: “It was a needless challenge. The free-kick was given and the ball runs away – Reo’s just relaxed and stopping it and the guy loses his head and just kicks through and block-tackles him, so hopefully it’s not going to be too serious.

“It was an outstanding performance. I’m very pleased, naturally. I’ve always said whatever changes I do make shouldn’t affect the structure of the team. We have a way we want to play. The players have clarity on the structure and what we expect.

“It all comes from a basis of real hard work and pressing which allows us to play at the tempo we want to.”

Asked if the result will have an impact when the sides meet again in the Scottish Cup final a week on Saturday, Rodgers added: “That’s for Aberdeen.

From my side, I’m really happy with the performance. For me this was still a big game for us and we did that.”