Brendan Rodgers quizzed on Rangers defeat at Aberdeen and Celtic's main title rivals
Brendan Rodgers has refused to be drawn on whether he regards Aberdeen as genuine title contenders.
The Dons kept pace with co-leaders Celtic last night by downing Rangers and moving a staggering NINE points clear of the crisis-hit Ibrox club. Jimmy Thelin's side are now unbeaten in 16 games - with their only so-called 'blemish' a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park. The Pittodrie faithful are dreaming of taking four-in-a-row chasing Celtic all the way in this season's title race but after watching his side defeat Dundee 2-0, Rodgers was reluctant to declare Aberdeen as the real deal.
He said: "Listen, Aberdeen have had a fantastic start. That's a really good result for them. But as I'm sure you can respect, my focus is very much on Celtic. Our guys have made a brilliant start also, in terms of how they've been playing, the goals they've been scoring, secure defensively in the main and in a really good position in the Champions League.
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"But it's still so early. My first marker is after 10 games. And if I look at it after 10 games, then we've made a really good start. Aberdeen are there as well, but there's still such a long way to go. I love going to Hampden and we're in a really good place arriving into there. We've got players coming back and hopefully it'll be a really exciting game."
Rodgers made six changes for Dundee's visit and was pleased with the outcome.
"It's one of those ones where you can be more comfortable in the game if you get those early goals with two massive chances in that first period of the game," he said. "But it was job done. We controlled the game, created chances, should have had more goals and didn't concede. So we have to be happy."
The champions were without the injured Callum McGregor, Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah but all three are expected to be fit to face the Dons in Saturday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final.
"All three will be fine," Rodgers said. "Nicolas Kuhn had a sore hip after the game at the weekend. But he trained earlier, so that was good. Callum as well, and Adam also. We'll see their reaction. Hopefully, it will be all right. I think he's got away with one there, Adam. He's still a bit sore, a bit swollen, but the medical team tell me he's done a bit of work. So, hopefully no reaction to it."