Rodgers says Celtic can have ‘no complaints’ after surprising loss to Aberdeen in Scottish Cup Final.
CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers said his side can have ‘no complaints’ after losing the Scottish Cup Final to Aberdeen, which prevented the Hoops from completing a domestic treble.
Celtic were heavy favourites heading into the game, having scored 19 goals against the Dons and conceded only four in their previous five meetings this season.
However, Jimmy Thelin’s side defied expectations to win the Scottish Cup for the first time in 35 years with a penalty shootout victory at Hampden.
Despite admitting Celtic did not do enough to win, Rodgers praised his team’s league and League Cup success and stated that Saturday’s defeat would serve as motivation for next season.
“We know how hard you have to work, none of this is given to you, you really have to earn it,” he shared with Celtic TV.
“Today, we simply didn’t do enough to earn that.
“Our other titles — we’ve won two out of three domestic titles this year — we’ve certainly earned them, so it’s just a reflection of how difficult it is to win trophies and how good this team and club have been over the years.
“Days like today are all part of the sport and football. It’s not nice, but it will allow us to refuel our motivation for the summer.”
He went on to say, “In terms of the game itself, we can’t really complain because when you don’t create much and you’re safe, that’s what happens.
“You put yourself in a position where you can win or lose it, and unfortunately for us, we lost.
“But the bigger picture is that we’ve won two out of three titles this season, and the players have given me and the club everything.
“Now they need to go away and be with their families because their families need them now, they’ll need them, and then we get to the summer and look to regroup and get excited by next season.”
Resolute Dons
Despite Celtic’s success against the Dons this season, which included a 6-0 League Cup semi-final win and two 5-1 league victories, the Hoops were unable to penetrate Aberdeen’s five-man back line for the majority of the first half.
The Scottish champions had over 80% possession throughout the game but were unable to muster a shot on goal until the breakthrough five minutes before halftime.
When it came, it wasn’t from a Celtic player, but rather an Alfie Donnington own goal, the on-loan Spurs defender turning Arne Engels’ corner into his own net to give Celtic the lead.
Alfie Dorrington turns the ball into his own net to give Celtic the lead.
The closest Celtic came to doubling their lead was Engels’ effort from the edge of the box that hit the upright midway through the second half.
It turned out to be a costly miss, as Celtic custodian Kasper Schmeichel appeared to collect a low cross from Dons substitute Shayden Morris but instead palmed the ball into his own goal.
In injury time, Daizen Maeda had a chance to seal the win against Dimitar Mitov, but the Bulgarian custodian denied him with an outstretched leg.
An error by Kasper Schmeichel led to the Dons’ equaliser (Image: Ian MacNicol / Getty Images).
The Dons had finished the stronger side in normal time and remained threatening after the break, with Dante Polvara firing just over from 12 yards.
At the other end, Jeffrey Schlupp hit the crossbar with a powerful strike from 20 yards, but neither team could find a winner before the game went to penalties.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor was first up, but Mitov saved his shot, and the Dons converted their first four penalties.
Mitov then denied Alistair Johnston, sending Aberdeen fans into raptures as the club won its first trophy in 11 years, following their 2013-14 League Cup victory.
Celtic fail to meet their own standards.
Rodgers admitted his side had failed to replicate their performances against Aberdeen — and many others — this season.
“We’re very disappointed to lose, I don’t think we played well enough to stand here and say we should have won the game,” said the player on Celtic TV.
“I don’t think our offensive attacking play was anywhere near the level we’ve been at this point in the season, so when you’re like that, you either win or lose the game.
“Unfortunately for us we lost it but congratulations to Aberdeen, they pick up the trophy and we’re on the wrong side of it, which hasn’t happened so often.”
Dimitar Mitov denies Callum McGregor from the spot (Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Aberdeen manager Thelin praised his players’ determination following a difficult second half of the season.
The Dons have only won five of their last 27 league games, despite being top of the table after 11 games last November.
“We have tried to visualise how to win this game and create this belief within the squad,” he said, according to the club website.
“Celtic is a really good team, and Brendan is an incredible manager, but the way our players competed today out there, how they defend together, they had cramps, they were tired, but they kept believing, and I’m so proud of how they used the energy of our supporters who came down here today.
“When it was so tight, they tried to take the extra step for each other and then they were so strong in the penalties also.”
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin celebrates with the Scottish Cup (Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images).
The season ends on a down note for Celtic, who were hoping to break their own world record by securing a ninth domestic treble.
Celtic suffered four domestic defeats in 2025, having gone undefeated domestically until the turn of the year, dropping only four league points.
The league was still easily won, but the disappointment of Saturday’s loss, as well as the drop in form in the second half of the season, will give the manager pause this summer.
It will arguably strengthen his bargaining position with the board when it comes to bringing in reinforcements, with the club no doubt hoping to advance further in the Champions League next season after coming close to beating Bayern Munich in their Champions League playoff match.
After 57 games, the Hoops will take a six-week break before travelling to Ireland for a friendly against Cork City and hosting Newcastle United two weeks later.
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