Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has heaped praise on Kyogo Furuhashi, claiming the Japanese forward “really frightens” defenders and highlighting the recent improvements in his game.
Kyogo’s summer had its ups and downs. He was electric during Celtic’s pre-season tour of the USA, scoring against both Chelsea and Manchester City.
However, a shoulder injury hampered his start to the competitive season, and it took him until last weekend’s Old Firm derby to register his first goal of the campaign.
The goal was a moment of brilliance. After receiving the ball from Greg Taylor, Kyogo expertly set himself up, before deceiving Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland with a low shot that nestled in the bottom right-hand corner.
But it’s not just his goalscoring that’s catching the eye. His work ethic was on full display in the second half of the derby when he tracked back nearly the entire length of the pitch to make a crucial tackle.
Brendan Rodgers can’t get enough of Kyogo at Celtic
Speaking in an interview with Celtic TV, Rodgers couldn’t hide his admiration for the Japanese forward, particularly referencing his all-action display against Rangers.
“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,” Rodgers said.
“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 [Maeda], 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.”
Rodgers added, “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 believes there’s more to come from Kyogo and has already noticed clear improvement in his overall game. The Celtic boss 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, so 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 to players, then getting in the box. His overall game is really improving and it’s so pleasing to see.”
For Celtic fans, Kyogo’s impressive development is a reason for excitement, though they’ll now have to wait until the return of club football to see him in action again. For now, as Rodgers continues to refine his attacking play, Kyogo remains a key figure in a Celtic side brimming with potential.