Celtic slip into their 'A-game' as Aberdeen get reality check

With rampant Celtic three goals up against an unravelling Aberdeen in first-half stoppage time at Hampden, a kick and slip from Brendan Rodgers was a sign he wanted more from his team.

A boot of the ball in the manager's technical area was a show of frustration, before he comically slipped with a smile on his face.

The Northern Irishman said he was "raging" his team had given possession away and cited issues with their tempo.

Given his players were cruising towards the Scottish League Cup final at the time, the comments highlight Rodgers' vision for this Celtic team.

An unrelenting second-half display, during which the clinical Parkhead side added a further three goals, proves the manager's ruthless demands were worthwhile as they delivered an ominous message to their overwhelmed opposition.

"Rodgers wants Celtic to play with a certain style and they did that with aplomb," former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner said on BBC Sportsound.

"They got the goals, they were clinical and it shows the class they have. It was a real thumping."

Facing an Aberdeen side who had put together a 16-game unbeaten start to the season, Rodgers knew Celtic "had to bring our A-game" to Hampden.

And given the Dons had staged an impressive two-goal comeback at Parkhead two weeks prior, the reigning Premiership champions wanted to make a statement.

What they also delivered was a sobering reality check for Jimmy Thelin's men.

From the highs of Wednesday's dramatic win over Rangers and talk of a potential title challenge, Aberdeen were emphatically brought crashing back down to earth at the national stadium.

Integral to the Hampden dismantling were Celtic wide men Daizen Maeda, who netted a stunning hat-trick, and Nicolas Kuhn, who said "we learned our lesson" from the league game.

Rodgers said "it was up to us to decide the game and the players did that" with an "outstanding team performance".

And on Japan forward Maeda's standout display, the Celtic boss added: "His appetite to work hard and run is absolutely incredible.

"He gets into areas now and scores really important goals. He wants to run, we want him to run, we're a running team, we want to be active and there's nobody more active than him."

After such a stellar start to Thelin's reign, ex-Aberdeen captain Willie Miller says the Dons' collapse is a "setback that needs to be analysed".

Miller suggested the Swede should have perhaps started with an extra man in midfield, given how overrun Aberdeen were in that area.

"It's a lesson to be learned and I think Thelin will learn from it," the former defender added on BBC Sportsound.

"It is embarrassing, but Thelin has done well coming in to the club, turning it around and giving the fans optimism.

"It is a setback. But it is also a setback against the best team in Scotland."

Meanwhile, Thelin stressed the need to "look at the bigger picture" after their "first bump in the road".

It was a fairly big bump, but the Dons manager will be desperate to ensure the bruising defeat does not derail a stunning start to his time in Scotland.

"Most importantly for us now is how we move on in the future," Thelin added.

"We can't let this game define us. We have to move on. We always take it game by game."