Celtic thrashing ‘a massive learning curve’ – Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie

Graeme Shinnie says the 6-0 League Cup semi-final thrashing by Celtic is “a massive learning curve” for Aberdeen’s squad but is confident they can put the crushing disappointment behind them.

The Dons had gone into the game unbeaten in 16 games, including a 2-2 league draw at Celtic Park, under manager Jimmy Thelin, but it was Brendan Rodgers’ domestically unbeaten side who progressed to face either Motherwell or Rangers in the final.

“It is going to hurt for the next couple of days,” midfielder Shinnie admitted. “Defeats like that do, but I think we have to analyse it then get over it and look forward to next week and turning it round and getting back to winning ways.

“We have had a good start in the league and it is a league game next week against Dundee at home with a sell-out crowd again, so we need to repay that with a good performance.”

Shinnie had a simple explanation when asked what made the difference between the league draw and the cup capitulation.

“That is what happens if we are not at the top of our game,” he told BBC Scotland. “Celtic are a good team if you let them play to their strengths.

“When they are at the top of their game like that, we need to match it with the top of our game and we weren’t there, so when we don’t play well and they are playing well like that, it is a bit of a recipe for disaster, so it is a massive learning curve for the squad.”

Aberdeen had beaten Rangers 2-1 in a tense midweek Premiership game at Pittodrie to move nine points clear of the visitors along with Celtic, but Shinnie was not for using that as an excuse.

“We prepared well for the game, recovered well after Wednesday, prepared as we normally would,” he added.

“We didn’t make our mark, we had a couple of chances in the second half, but we didn’t do enough on the day to hurt them going forward and the goals that we lost were really sloppy, so a mix of everything is a bad day.”