Pat Bonner shares what really ‘shocked’ him about Celtic at Hampden on Saturday

The rollercoaster that was the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Saturday is still on the Celtic fans’ minds today.

Now that we know we face Rangers in the final, the build-up to the showpiece occasion will be simmering under the ensuing title run-in that continues this weekend.

But for Celtic, Pat Bonner raised a point about the performance that will resonate with the Celtic support and, possibly, Brendan Rodgers, as the analysis of the Game continues this week.

The positives to take from Celtic’s ‘poor’ Hampden passing

Pat Bonner was shocked at Celtic’s passing and named two players whom he was really surprised by in the post-match analysis.

Bonner said [BBC Radio Scotland], “I agree totally, I was shocked at some of the passing there was out there.

“Short, inaccurate, also tripping over the ball at times. And that’s a combination probably of them not being up to scratch at that part of the Game.

“But also Aberdeen closing them down with aggression and almost not allow them to simply pass the ball.

“You’ve got to use your body and maybe keep people off and then get the ball away. I watch O’Riley maybe falling over the ball, Yang falling over it and all of that. And that’s been a poor display from Celtic.”

Despite Celtic not being at their peak and the team’s passing not being to its usual high standard, even at Aberdeen’s peak, they still could not beat us.

Celtic had an off day with many players not hitting the standards that we have become used to. And despite missing Daizen Maeda and Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate taken off in the second half, Brendan Rodgers’ team still had it in them to get the tie over the line.

What it shows is that those players who are waiting in the wings had the mentality to get Celtic into a final in a high-pressured situation and that will stand us in good stead heading into the final six Games of the season.

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