Treble would have papered over some of the recent cracks says Sutton

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·1 June 2025

Treble would have papered over some of the recent cracks says Sutton

Chris Sutton believes that had Celtic won last weekend’s Scottish Cup final, it might have masked deeper issues within the squad and suggests that the defeat could actually prove valuable moving forward…

Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Despite taking a first-half lead through an own goal by Alfie Dorrington, the Scottish Cup holders were pulled back late in the game after a rare mistake from Kasper Schmeichel following Shayden Morris’ driven cross.

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Jimmy Thelin’s side ultimately clinched victory in the shootout and ended a 35-year Scottish Cup drought for the Dons.

“I’m sure there are plenty of Celtic fans who were and still are distraught at losing to Aberdeen and seeing the treble going up in smoke,” said Sutton stated in his weekend column in Daily Record.

Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“Everything would have been seen as hunky dory”

“I can’t help but think the defeat was a good thing for the club in the long run. I mean that. If Kasper Schmeichel hadn’t made that uncharacteristic mistake, or if Daizen Maeda had stuck away that last chance, the entire story would have been different.

“Celtic would have completed the clean sweep, everything would have been seen as hunky dory. But it would have papered over some of the recent cracks.”

Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Sutton added: “Listen, it’s still a phenomenal achievement winning the double. Regardless of what anyone thinks, it’s tough to win two out of three never mind the job lot.

“Celtic have made it look easy in recent years”

“Celtic have made it look easy in recent years, and they could well have done it again this time but for some big moments at Hampden last week. That doesn’t get away from the fact this is a team that is in real need of refreshing.”

“They should be proud of their achievements this term. But the defeat to Aberdeen has made them feel a little uncomfortable and maybe now some have cottoned on to the fact there is work to be done.”

Celtic FC – Quadruple Treble Winners, December 2020.

What happened after Celtic’s last big Hampden disappointment in April 2016

Sutton’s view is one that is certainly shared by many Celtic supporters, and it’s also worth noting that the last time Celtic suffered a real Hampden set-back before last weekend was in the 2016 Scottish Cup semi-final against Championship hopefuls theRangers.

The Celtic response to that was to win a Quadruple Treble and it took a global pandemic to derail that particular Celtic juggernaut.

Conor Spence

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