Celtic supporters were left stunned and bewildered after Aberdeen manager Bo Thelin delivered a bizarre and controversial post-match statement following his side’s humiliating defeat to the Scottish champions.
In a tense post-match press conference at Pittodrie, Thelin accused Celtic of “playing death to win” a remark that sent shockwaves through Scottish football and left many struggling to make sense of the Swede’s words.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Thelin said. “Celtic didn’t just come to play football, they came to destroy to play death to win. It’s terrible. It’s not the game we should be promoting.”
The baffling choice of words immediately sparked outrage and ridicule, with Celtic fans taking to social media to express disbelief and anger at what many called an “embarrassing deflection” and “an insult to the beautiful game.” Some fans speculated that Thelin’s remarks may have been a result of frustration boiling over after yet another heavy defeat.
Celtic, meanwhile, put on a masterclass performance. Brendan Rodgers’ side showed intensity, precision, and attacking flair from the first whistle to the last, leaving Aberdeen helpless and firmly outclassed.
Thelin’s strange accusation seemed to suggest that Celtic’s dominance bordered on malicious, though he stopped short of elaborating what he meant by “playing death.” When pressed for clarification, Thelin simply repeated that “football is about life and balance, not this kind of brutality.”
Critics quickly responded to Thelin’s comments, with former Celtic captain and Sky Sports pundit Scott Brown calling the remarks “embarrassing” and “completely detached from reality.”
“Celtic played football at the highest level today. They were ruthless, yes, but that’s what great teams do. You don’t accuse a team of ‘playing death’ because they outclassed you. That’s just bizarre,” Brown said on air.
Aberdeen, who now sit mid-table after a season marked by inconsistency, have failed to win a game against Celtic in their last ten meetings. Pressure is beginning to mount on Thelin, whose recent results and tactical decisions have been heavily criticized by the Aberdeen faithful.
Rumors had previously linked Thelin with an unlikely move to Celtic in the event of future managerial change, but after today’s press conference, that speculation has all but evaporated.
“No one at Celtic would touch him now, not after those comments,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). “He’s lost the plot, and it shows.”
Aberdeen have yet to issue a formal statement addressing their manager’s remarks, though insiders suggest that club executives were “caught off guard” and “deeply concerned” about the public fallout.
For Celtic, the victory puts them one step closer to yet another league title and a potential domestic double. For Aberdeen and Bo Thelin, the path ahead appears far rockier. If results do not improve and the rhetoric continues to spiral Thelin’s time at Pittodrie may be shorter than expected.
As for the phrase “playing death to win,” it will likely be remembered less as a philosophical insight and more as a meme-worthy moment in Scottish football’s long and colorful history.
