The buzz around Celtic’s League Cup semi-final clash with Aberdeen focused on both teams’ impressive unbeaten runs leading up to the showdown at Hampden on Saturday. Aberdeen had recently shown their resilience, securing a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Celtic Park by clawing back from a two-goal deficit in the first half to earn a well-deserved point.

Aberdeen’s impressive comeback at Celtic Park rightfully earned praise, as few teams have managed such a feat against Celtic in recent years. However, Aberdeen legend Joe Harper may have let the excitement get the best of him, making a rather bold and unexpected claim about Celtic ahead of the crucial Hampden semi-final on Saturday. His comments certainly raised a few eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.

Joe Harper, brimming with pride over Aberdeen’s recent performances, boldly claimed that Celtic would be “worried” about facing Aberdeen in the Hampden showdown. Reflecting on the Dons’ gritty 2-2 comeback at Parkhead and their recent victory over Rangers, Harper shared with the Press & Journal, “Aberdeen went to Parkhead and drew 2-2 with Celtic recently, having trailed by two goals at half-time. So many teams have crumbled when going two goals down away to Celtic and gone on to suffer heavy defeats, including Aberdeen.”

Harper’s confidence in his former club hinted at high expectations, setting the stage for a thrilling semi-final.

But under Jimmy Thelin, Aberdeen has shown a new resilience, roaring back to stun Celtic and proving they’re no pushovers. The critics’ claims that Aberdeen hadn’t been tested now hold little weight, as the Reds have gone toe-to-toe with both Rangers and Celtic, emerging undefeated.

Harper believes Aberdeen’s form has both halves of Glasgow on alert. With the Dons in flying form, he’s confident they could reach new heights by overcoming Celtic in the League Cup semi-final on Saturday. “Celtic will know they will have to be at the top of their game against Aberdeen at Hampden,” Harper stated, underscoring the pressure on Celtic to bring their best against a resilient Aberdeen side.

Here’s why Celtic wouldn’t have been too worried about Aberdeen: while Aberdeen’s recent ten-game run has indeed been impressive, it’s still a relatively small sample size—just over a quarter of the season. 67 Hail Hail acknowledges Aberdeen’s achievements, but the idea that Celtic were genuinely “worried” feels exaggerated. For a club with Celtic’s pedigree, sustained consistency over an entire season holds more weight than a brief streak, however commendable.

Aberdeen showed promise by passing their first two big tests: a hard-earned draw with Celtic and a victory over Rangers at Pittodrie. But when it came to the League Cup semi-final, Aberdeen fell short, with Celtic quickly reasserting their dominance over the challengers.

To truly compete for titles, Aberdeen will need to show the same resilience against every opponent, not just the Glasgow giants. Their collapse at Hampden under Celtic’s pressure suggested that, despite Joe Harper’s claims, it wasn’t Brendan Rodgers’ side that was feeling the heat.