Brendan Rodgers has made a bold selection decision ahead of Celtic’s Champions League tie against Atalanta in Bergamo, opting to start Adam Idah over Kyogo Furuhashi.
The move has sparked debate among supporters, especially given Kyogo’s recent form, having scored and assisted in the weekend’s win over Aberdeen.
Explaining his decision, Rodgers told the Daily Record: “Adam just gives us that extra physicality. Atalanta are a team that are very physical, and you end up in the game in a lot of duels.
“When you have the ball, especially from a deeper area, you are having to play through pressure to the front man, and that is one of Adam’s great strengths, taking the ball in. He can hopefully be a really good reference for us.”
Rodgers’ call to drop Kyogo is unexpected, particularly after the Japanese forward’s influential display at the weekend. However, it seems the Celtic boss is banking on Idah’s physical presence to unsettle Atalanta’s aggressive style of play.
Idah’s ability to hold up the ball could provide a different attacking dimension, potentially disrupting Gian Piero Gasperini’s well-drilled man-marking system. The surprise selection could give Celtic an edge in a challenging away fixture.
Rodgers will hope his gamble pays off, as Celtic look to claim crucial points in their European campaign against a tough Atalanta side.