Kyogo Furuhashi’s team-mates have taken to Instagram, reacting to his Ibrox match-winner.
This week it has all been sweetness and light for Brendan Rodgers squad with the pressure piled on across the city with Micky Beale and his players being slaughtered from all sides.
Deep into first half stoppage time Matt O’Riley returned a header from Connor Goldson over the Ibrox defender, Kyogo was on it instantly with the ball slammed beyond Jack Butland from 20 yards out.
Even just a month into the campaign it could well be the most moment of the season as Celtic left Ibrox four points ahead with any questions about Brendan Rodgers removed. This is a fixture that he thrives on.
A year ago the questions were being asked about Kyogo’s ability to handle the Glasgow Derby.
Picking up a shoulder injury in the early minutes of the fixture, Giorgos Giakoumakis came off the bench to turn in a commanding performance that helped deliver a 4-0 victory although he didn’t get on the scoresheet.
Kyogo’s style of play could hardly be more different to Giakoumakis but in this year in that fixture the former Vissel Kobe man has become the dominant figure.
It started at Ibrox on January 2 with an 87th minute equaliser, switched to Hampden and Celtic Park then returned to Ibrox at the weekend as he made it six goals so far I 2023. Quirkily those six goals have been delivered into all of the available nets across the city.
In last season’s Champions League Ange Postecoglou rotated his two strikers but with the fixtures stretching over three months this time it looks like Kyogo will get the chance to translate his domestic form onto the European stage.
Feyenoord, Lazio and Atletico Madrid aren’t among the Champions League heavyweights but they represent very serious opposition, at least on a par with last season’s Champions League foes.
Having mastered the Glasgow Derby Kyogo only has to wait until September 19, away to Feyenoord to find out if he can add the Champions League to his goalscoring CV.
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