‘Excellent’ Kyogo earns praise from Rodgers as Celtic take top spot

After Kyogo Furuhashi, who was summoned back, scored and assisted in the victory over St Johnstone that propelled Celtic back to the top of the Premiership, Brendan Rodgers praised the “excellent” striker.

In the 3-1 victory on Saturday, the Japan forward—who finished as Scotland’s Player of the Year and top scorer the previous season—also had two goals disallowed for offside.

With this victory, the Champions go one point clear of Rangers, at least until their Sunday match against Dundee at Dens Park.

at order to take back the top spot, Philippe Clement’s team will need to win at Tayside; however, a draw would leave the top two tied on points and goal differential heading into the final eight games, with Celtic leading on goals scored.

 

Despite Adam Idah starting the past three games, Kyogo returned to the team ahead of the former manager Ange Postecoglou, who was unable to duplicate his prolific form from the previous campaign.

And the forward increased his goal total to 16 for the season. The Hoops faithful will be hoping that he has returned to form just in time for the final stretch as the competition for the Premiership title heats up.

After beating goalie Dimitar Mitov to Nicolas Kuhn’s cross in the 40th minute, he headed in the first goal. In the first minute of the second half, he assisted the German winger in scoring. In addition, he struck the crossbar and appeared to be really sharp overall.

“Adam (Idah) has been very good when he came in and that is what Kyogo and every player needs,” Rodgers stated following the game. They require rivalry.

 

However, I felt he was intelligent and had wonderful movement. Accurate.

 

At the first goal, he showed great bravery. Some strikers might have moved their heads out of the way to allow the keeper to get through, but he didn’t, and he scored the goal. He makes a run and comes back onside.

 

And for the second one, it was an excellent cross. He was quite good.

 

After scoring his first goal at home against Livingston last weekend, Kuhn, who moved from Rapid Vienna in January, continued to impress.

 

Furthermore, Rodgers found the German attractive.

 

“I think you are starting to see a little bit of why we brought him here,” the manager remarked.

 

“He moves really quickly.

He was having trouble with his teeth and other medical issues when he first came in, so it was difficult for him. However, he has since demonstrated that he has regained his strength and is training exceptionally well.

“For the first goal, he clearly puts in a fantastic cross, and for the second, you can see his pace.

 

“We always desire for our wingers to enter the box. He entered the game and scored an incredible goal.

 

After Connor Smith had given Saints a late lead, Alistair Johnston was denied by a questionable offside judgment. James Forrest, a substitute, added a third goal, his 104th of the season.

 

“I thought there was a great feeling in the stadium and from the crowd from the start of the game,” Aaron Rodgers stated.

 

“I felt it was a very solid effort all around, and the players got off to a great start in the game.

 

“Our pressing went a little bit passive when I made all the adjustments, which gave them a little bit more time on the ball than we would have wanted,” is the one drawback.

 

After drawing in August, Saints manager Craig Levein acknowledged that his team was unable to put on the full show required to win at Celtic Park.

 

“We played really well defensively,” Levein remarked. Although we gave Celtic very few chances in the first half, losing the goal early in the second half was devastating.

“Every time we had the ball, we just coughed it up. We kept turning the ball over and giving Celtic the opportunity to launch another onslaught. The annoying thing was that.

It took Celtic over thirty minutes to get their first shot on goal. We were able to keep them inside the open spaces and stop any crosses and shots.

 

“But you’re going to be up against attack after attack if you consistently give the ball away to a team as good as Celtic.”

 

Halfway through the first half, Levein lost midfielder Sven Sprangler to a knee injury.

 

He stated, “It appears that Sprangler has torn his medial ligament.” “I don’t know if he’ll be absent for several weeks or months.”

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