Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean believes Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was playing some pre-Old Firm mind games by describing St Mirren as their toughest test this season.
The Hoops manager raised eyebrows after last week’s 4-1 Scottish Cup win by claiming the Buddies, who are bottom of the Championship, were the strongest team they had faced domestically this season.
That may have irked the Dons, who are Celtic’s closest challengers in the Scottish Premiership. But McLean reckons the Celtic manager was probably trying to land an early blow on Rangers ahead of tomorrow’s meeting at Parkhead.
He said: “He’s obviously a top coach and a top manager and you need to respect that.
“It could have been a wee dig at Rangers but if that’s his opinion then fair enough.
“If it’s a dig and it gets under people’s skin then he’s doing his job.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. Every team is trying to stop Celtic this season and not been able to do it.
“St Mirren put up a good fight, so fair play to them. But who knows what it is for? He’s obviously done it for one reason or another.
“It’s down to other teams to go and prove that they are the best at Parkhead.
“St Mirren played well at the start of the game but I think Celtic were comfortable in the end.
“We went to Parkhead last month and lost 1-0 to a goal from a set-piece.
“It’s his opinion. If he’s being honest with that then you respect it, if not and he’s trying to get a few bites out of people then I’m sure he’s getting them.”
The Dons can move nine points clear of Rangers by defeating Motherwell at Pittodrie this afternoon.
Derek McInnes’ Reds won 7-2 when the sides met in Aberdeen last month and McLean expects a much tougher contest today.
He said: “The last match would have been embarrassing for them.
“As a professional you never want to lose like that. They’ll be coming and trying to put things right. It’s not nice to have that kind of result, so they’ll be right up for it.”