Celtic have had a magical ride in 2016-17, one that no one saw coming less than a year ago as Brendan Rodgers was being named manager. After all, this club couldn’t win a game in the Europa League group stage just a season ago.
But, with less than a month to go in the campaign and just three matches left in league play, Celtic have yet to loose a match in domestic play. The Hoops have draw just four times all season as well.
It is hard not to think the next month is all about celebration, what with the Lisbon Lions 50th anniversary celebration and Henrik vs. Lubo’s Legends game in the offing too. Oh, and already having the League Cup and Scottish Premiership trophies in the case for this season.
What is really left for the squad to not be rotated and for this team to focus singularly on a domestic treble?
How about a challenge from the team that is in second place in the SPFL table and the team that will be across from Celtic in the Scottish Cup final just a few weeks away?
Most Celtic supporters have chosen to focus on that match, and rightfully so. A domestic treble and an undefeated season could be on the line.
But, before we get there, Celtic will face a huge hurdle in a league trip to Abredeen this upcoming weekend. Could this be a prelude to the cup final? Rodgers certainly doesn’t see it that way.
"“It is the fifth time we will have played each other, it is obviously at Pittodrie which is a notoriously tough place to go but it is a game we are looking forward to. But it will have no relevance on the Scottish Cup final. Our idea is to peak for that. We have three more league games that we want to finish well and this will be a real good examination of our qualities but it will have no relevance to the outcome of that (final) game.”"
Some would be forgiven for shrugging their shoulders a bit at this game. After all, Celtic have won every meeting with the Dons this season. That includes three league matchups and one in the Scottish Cup as well.
Celtic own two clean sheets (1-0 victories) and a 4-1 win in league play over Aberdeen so far this season. The Bhoys also were 3-0 winners over the Dons in the League Cup final on the 27th of November.
Add it all up and Celtic own a 9-1 advantage on the scoreboard this season.
Still, a trip up to Aberdeen represents the biggest domestic challenge Celtic has seen all season. Not only are the Dons second in the league standings (albeit 27 points adrift), but Celtic are clearly rotating their squad in hopes of keeping the regulars as fresh as possible for the cup final.
Aberdeen are certainly going to be up for the match, as is every team that has faced Celtic so far this season in SPFL play. But, they also have a quality side that can catch the Bhoys off-guard if they aren’t on top of their game.
While Rodgers says he is all about the squad rotation and nothing will change about his game plan going forward, one can’t help but see what went down last week and notice the names that were missing from the Starting XI.
Scott Brown will miss the second of his two-game suspension, but one has to believe that Scott Sinclair and Mikael Lustig are likely back in the Starting XI and the least for this clash.
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There will be two other matches for Rodgers to get youth players in to the mix and rotate the squad as needed. Expect the big guns tomorrow, as Celtic know they have plenty of records still to break.
It also would be the fifth victory of the season against the Dons. Talk about demoralizing a team right before a big match, huh?
Celtic would be wise to make a big statement, which means putting in bunches of goals to remind Aberdeen who is really bossing this league and the domestic scene overall.