Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes Kyogo Furuhashi ‘really frightens’ opponents, lauding the Japanese talent for the improvement he’s shown recently.
Kyogo has had a mixed summer. He was electric during the pre-season period, rattling in goals against Chelsea and Manchester City on the USA tour.
However, a shoulder injury hampered the opening weeks of the campaign proper and it took him until last weekend’s derby against Rangers to notch his first goal.
What a goal it was, too. Receiving the ball from Greg Taylor, he expertly set himself up for a shot before bamboozling Jack Butland with a low finish into the bottom right-hand corner.
That’s not all he offers the team, either. The other side of his game was typified in a second-half moment against Rangers when he tracked a runner almost the full length of the field to make a tackle.
Brendan Rodgers can’t get enough of Kyogo at Celtic
In a new interview with Celtic TV, manager Brendan Rodgers referenced that passage of play when lauding the striker, stating: “Kyogo is 100 per cent in everything he does. When he presses, he’s all in and he really frightens defenders and goalkeepers with that speed of his press.
“But in order to do that, you have to be cute, you have to be aware, you have to be clever, so from a tactical perspective, he’s so, so good. Again, like Daizen, it’s 100 per cent for the team.
You see the recovery run he made. There are midfield players who wouldn’t make that run. He’s gone from the edge of the box and tracked the game all the way back to put his body on the line for the team.
Seeing that level of commitment from him, it’s a great tonic for everyone else in the team. As a supporter you want to see a player give that level of commitment.”
How Kyogo is getting even better at the Bhoys
Rodgers reckons there’s even more to come from his Japanese star and has already noted specific improvement in his all-round game.
The Celtic manager continued: “On the offensive side, I’ve really been pleased with his development.
“I’ve spoken before about him playing the space rather than the position and, hopefully, you can see a lot more of that coming through now. Sometimes the space behind isn’t always there, to improve his game it’s about being able to play the space in front.
“Now he’s got this lovely balance between getting in behind, getting in the box, getting to the near post, being ready for the cutback but also helping in the build-up phase of the game.
“He’s not getting tackled, he’s spinning around the corner, he’s laying it off the players then getting in the box. His overall game is really improving and it’s so pleasing to see.”
For Celtic fans, it’s just a shame we have to wait until the return of club football to see him back in action. I’m already counting down the hours.
