Celtic’s Rodgers unsure if Aberdeen can compete for title
Celtic host Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership this weekend
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Published
Scottish Premiership: Celtic v Aberdeen
Date: Saturday 19 October Kick-off: 15:00 BST Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow.
Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Scotland & BBC Sounds, highlights on BBC Scotland & iPlayer from 19:15, updates on BBC Sport website & app.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says he has been impressed with Aberdeen’s perfect start but is unsure if they will compete with his side for the Scottish Premiership title.
Celtic lead Aberdeen on goal difference at the top of the league after both teams won their first seven matches, as they prepare to face each other in Glasgow on Saturday.
Jimmy Thelin’s side have won all 13 of their games this season but the Swede has said it is “way too early” to talk of Aberdeen as title contenders, and Rodgers agrees.
“I don’t know, is the honest answer,” the Celtic boss said when asked if he thinks the Dons can maintain their form across the whole campaign.
“It’s only seven games in. There’s such a long, long way to go in the season. It’s how you deal with the bumps in the road as well, which will always determine where you finish and how you end up.”
Rodgers added he has been impressed with Thelin’s impact so far, saying he is clearly “a very good coach”.
“They look to have real clarity in how they play, both with the ball and against the ball,” he added. “You win seven straight games in your league, then you’ve done really, really well.”
Celtic will be without Greg Taylor against Aberdeen and Atalanta next Wednesday in the Champions League, but defender Cameron Carter-Vickers has a chance of returning from a toe injury.
However Rodgers says Celtic do not want to “push him back in too early” given his injury history.
Rodgers warns fans about pyrotechnics
This week Celtic were fined nearly £17,000 by Uefa after some supporters used pyrotechnics at their recent Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund.
The club were also hit with a suspended ban on selling tickets to away fans for one European game, should there be more breaches of the rules by supporters in the next two seasons.
Rodgers urged fans not to land the club in more trouble, stressing pyrotechnics are not necessary for supporters to generate a good atmosphere.
“If you do keep doing it, you’re showing that you don’t really care,” Rodgers said.
“You don’t really care for the team. You don’t care for the support and you don’t care for your club because the club ultimately are getting fined as well.
“So if you keep doing it, you’re clearly showing that you’re actually not really worried about your own club, you’re worried about yourself. So it doesn’t need it.”
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