CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers said his side can have 'no complaints' after their Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen saw the Hoops miss out on a domestic treble.
Celtic were heavy favourites going into the clash, having scored 19 goals against the Dons and conceding just four in their five previous meetings this season.
However, Jimmy Thelin's side tore up the script to deservedly land the Scottish Cup for the first time in 35 years after a penalty shootout victory at Hampden.
Despite conceding Celtic didn't do enough to win, Rodgers hailed his side's success in the league and League Cup and said Saturday's loss would motivate the side 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 told Celtic TV.
“Today we just didn't do enough to earn that.
Brendan Rodgers felt Celtic's offensive play was lacking (Image: Ian MacNicol / Getty Images)"Our other titles — we've won two out of three domestic titles this year — we've definitely earned them, so it's just a reference to how tough it is to win trophies and how good this team and this club have been over a number of years.
"Days like today, it's all part of sport and part of football. It's not nice but it'll allow us to renew the motivation again going into the summer."
He added: "In terms of the game itself, we can have no complaints really because when you don't create so much and you're safe on it, then that's what can happen.
"You put yourself in a position where you can win it or lose it and sadly for us, we lost it.
"But the bigger picture is we've won two out of three titles this season — the players have given me everything and they've given 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 includes a 6-0 League Cup semi-final victory and two 5-1 league wins — the Hoops were unable to breach Aberdeen's five-man back line for most of the first half.
The Scottish champions had more than 80 per cent possession throughout the game but were unable to muster an effort on target before the breakthrough five minutes before the interval.
When it came, it wasn't from a Celtic player but an Alfie Donnington own goal, the on-loan Spurs defender turning Arne Engels' corner into his own net to give Celtic a 1-0 lead.
Alfie Dorrington turns the ball into his own net to hand Celtic the lead (Image: Ian MacNicol / Getty Images)The closest Celtic came to doubling the advantage was an Engels effort from the edge of the box that struck the upright midway through the second half.
It was to prove a costly miss as seven minutes from time, Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel looked like he would collect a low cross from Dons substitute Shayden Morris but instead palmed the ball into his own goal.
Daizen Maeda had a chance to seal it late in injury time when he found himself one-on-one with Dimitar Mitov but the Bulgarian keeper superbly denied the PFA Scotland Player of the Year with an outstretched leg.
An error from Kasper Schmeichel led to the Dons' equaliser (Image: Ian MacNicol / Getty Images)The Dons had finished the stronger side in normal time and continued to look threatening after the break, Dante Polvara firing just over with a powerful drive from 12 yards.
At the other end, Jeffrey Schlupp rattled the bar with a fierce strike from 20 yards but neither side could find a winner before the game went to penalties.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor was first up but saw his effort saved by Mitov while the Dons converted their opening four penalties.
Mitov then denied Alistair Johnston to send the Aberdeen fans into raptures as the club claimed a first trophy in 11 years after their 2013-14 League Cup success.
Celtic fail to match own standards
Rodgers admitted his side failed to replicate the performances they've produced against Aberdeen — and many others — throughout the 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," he told Celtic TV.
"I don't think our offensive attacking play was anywhere to the standard of what we've been a lot of the season, so when you're like that, you can either win the game 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 boss Thelin praised his players for their determination after a torrid second half of the season.
The Dons won just five of their last 27 league games, having been top of the table in November after 11 matches.
"All this week, we have tried to visualise how to win this game, and create this belief inside the squad," he said, reports the club website.
"Celtic is a really good team, Brendan is a really amazing manager, but the way our players compete today out there, how they defend together, they had cramp, they were tired, but they keep believing, and I'm so proud how they also used the energy from our supporters who travel 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 result sees the season end on a dour note for Celtic, who were looking to break their own world record by securing a ninth domestic treble.
After remaining undefeated domestically until the turn of the year, dropping just four points in the league, Celtic suffered four domestic defeats in 2025.
The league was still won at a canter but the disappointment of Saturday's loss and the dip in form in the second half of the season will provide the manager with food for thought 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 go one further in the Champions League next season after running Bayern Munich close in their Champions League playoff tie.
After their 57-game campaign, the Hoops have a six-week break before travelling to Ireland for a friendly against Cork City and then host Newcastle United two weeks later.
