Celtic striker Kyogo turned his attention to the Champions League and the trip to Italy to play last season’s Europa League winners on Wednesday evening at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo…
Celtic v Aberdeen – Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates scoring the second goal of the game during the Scottish Premiership match on Saturday October 19, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow
The Japanese striker, who described the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen on Saturday as a ‘difficult match’, is upbeat about the prospect of facing Atalanta with their unique man-marking system which Brendan Rodgers has described as the best in the world.
“It’s going to be a good game”
“I’m looking forward to beat such a defensive style,” Kyogo said, as reported by Glasgow Times. “Obviously, if I play, I will try to enjoy it and see how much I can perform against this kind of team. It’s going to be a good game.
“It was a difficult match [against Aberdeen]and we ended up drawing. But we just have to focus on the next match as a team sticking together.
Celtic v Aberdeen – Scottish Premiership – Celtic Park Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers applauds the fans after the final whistle in the match at Celtic Park on Saturday October 19, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow
“We know it is going to be difficult. So whoever is playing from the start has to play together, link together, attack together, defend together and we have to perform very well because, obviously, the opponents are a very good team, so we just have to prepare well.
“I just have to be prepared to put the balls in the net”
“Individually, definitely I will have the chances, even though we play against a tough opponent. So I just have to be prepared to put the balls in the net, or at least I try to get the shots on target.
“And, as a team, as I said before, we have to work collectively, whoever is playing from the first minute, whoever is coming on off the bench. We have to share the same ideas, we have to work on it and try to get the result.”
Cameron Carter-Vickers in training at Lennoxtown. Photo Celtic FC
Celtic will definitely be without Greg Taylor and it increasingly looks like Cameron Carter-Vickers will also be missing, although that could change after he is assessed today at Lennoxtown.
Playing with two left sided central defenders is far from ideal and while Liam Scales was excellent playing on the left side it’s fair to say that Auston Trusty has been given the short straw and is much less comfortable playing on the right.
Paul Tisdale (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
Something for the Football Doctor to examine
Surely this has to be addressed by Celtic’s new Football Doctor Paul Tisdale in the January transfer window? Having one reliable when fit right sided central defender is far from ideal.
CCV has missed 50% of the Champions League matches played under Ange Postecoglou and subsequently Brendan Rodgers, so the evidence is there staring Celtic in the face and the likes of Dortmund and Atalanta have the ability to exploit this to the full.
If CCV’s game-time has to be managed he should be playing in the Champions League and can sit out the domestic games for a while.
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!
