Inside the Aberdeen half time message that sparked heroic Celtic fightback as Graeme Shinnie lifts lid on Parkhead talk

Graeme Shinnie and his Aberdeen team-mates were full of angst as they headed for their half-time cuppa.

But with calming chats and cool calculation from boss Jimmy Thelin, their heroic fightback at Celtic Park was born. At the half-way mark at the home of the champions, it looked like the same old recent story. Brendan Rodgers’ high-flying side were two goals to the good and the writing was on the wall for the Dons.

The manner of the goals lost to Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi didn’t amuse the Aberdeen players and their mood wasn’t helped by the fact a chance went begging for Leighton Clarkson to grab a pre-interval lifeline. But, once inside, emotions were soothed and boss Jimmy Thelin got to work. The players gathered themselves while their relaxed manager expertly carved out the route back. Telling subs Duk and Ester Sokler to get stripped, re-instilling belief and reinforcing tactics.

What happened next had the away fans jubilant at full-time. Composed in thinking, aggressive in the alterations, Thelin’s acts brought instant reward. Not so long ago an Aberdeen team would have crumbled from that interval position. But this unified unit just got stronger.

Yes, they had to ride their luck at times, but getting into the position of having a point in their grasp was evidence enough that Thelin has the craft and his players the courage. Dons skipper Shinnie lifted the lid on those key interval moments as he said: “It’s a mix of everything.

“Everyone’s chatting at half-time. Everyone’s emotions are high, but we calmed it down, we spoke and we galvanised. We came out a lot better in the second half.”

It was a new situation for Thelin as Dons’ unbeaten manager, yet nothing altered in his demeanour as Shinnie added: “He’s