Celtic manager Martin O’Neill heaped praise on Camilo Duran after the Colombian scored a spectacular 20-yard strike to help the Hoops to a commanding 3-0 victory over Aberdeen.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill praised Camilo Duran’s exceptional talent following the Colombian’s contribution to the Hoops’ commanding 3-0 victory against Aberdeen.
The striker broke the deadlock unexpectedly in the 14th minute with yet another stunning goal since his arrival from Qarabag.
Duran appeared to have few options when he received Benjamin Nygren’s pass, yet he unleashed a thunderous 20-yard effort that crashed in off the crossbar with minimal backlift.
The forward also kept Marius Muller busy with four first-half stops and blazed over from a bouncing ball following Yang’s delivery that had thrown the Dons’ backline into disarray.
O’Neill said, “We played very well with some really good goals,” and “Camilo’s a star player.”
He added, “Camilo set the tone for us, I think perhaps maybe all season he’s done that. He’s a really class player.”
The manager continued, “He scored a great goal and obviously until you get that goal you just have to be on your guard as much as anything else.”
Nygren extended Celtic’s advantage before Duran turned provider for Yang Hyun-jun to net a third during first-half injury time, moments after Gavin Molloy had struck the woodwork at the opposite end.
O’Neill reflected, “I thought probably the big moment of the game was them hitting the bar with the header from the corner kick,”.
He concluded, “It seemed pretty comfortable at the end and we played some really good stuff as well too, so I’m delighted with that.”
Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson made four substitutions at the interval after expressing frustration with his team’s lack of conviction. “We got beat by a ruthless side,” Robinson said.
“We made mistakes and got punished for them.
“We didn’t have the belief that we’ve shown in training, in the second half. We didn’t have that belief in the first half to play. If you don’t get ownership of the game, it’s difficult to get out.
“So, at 2–0, we hit the crossbar, and the fine lines in football, they go up the other end, we make a mistake, effectively the game’s over.
“To an extent, I get a response and they show that they can pass the ball under pressure and they can play, and they are good players. And that’s a positive I have to take from it.
“Our season won’t be defined by getting beat by Celtic. Am I disappointed? Of course I am. I know the team are better than what they’ve showed.
“But it’s up to me, it’s my fault that they haven’t got the belief to do what they did in the second half and be brave. It’s too late at 3–0 down, and I take full responsibility.”
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