Furuhashi hoping fellow countryman can give Hoops boost with huge games ahead
Kyogo Furuhashi hopes his fellow Japanese Reo Hatate has returned at exactly the right time of the season for Celtic.
Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers recently highlighted the understanding between the two men, praising Hatate’s ability to pick out Kyogo’s clever runs in behind opposition defences.
And the last named is equally enthusiastic.
“Anyone who watches our games will know how big a player Reo is for us,” he said.
“I say that because you can see clearly how important he is to us. He gives us a lot of power on and off the ball.
“He is someone who makes a big impact in the team, so it is very good to have him back with us.”
Especially as Celtic have huge tests ahead of them.
Rodgers’ men will host Rangers in the post-split looking for a victory to give them the edge in the title race.
Before then they have the defence of the Scottish Cup to take care of with Aberdeen to be faced at Hampden on Saturday in the first of the competition’s semi-finals.
Kyogo hit the opening goal in Celtic’s win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle last May and is relishing the prospect of a return to the national stadium.
“I have good memories of the Scottish Cup with my goal in the final last year a highlight,” he said.
“But this semi-final against Aberdeen is a fresh challenge for us collectively and for me as an individual.
“We know that we can win it if we perform to our capabilities but also that to do so we will have to prepare ourselves very well.
“It will be a nice change. I say that because it is a different competition, and the game is being played at a nice
stadium, one we associate with big occasions.
“We know too that if we win on Saturday, we get to come back at the end of the season to play in the final which is a very special day in the calendar.
“So, we very much want to be successful. To do so, we have to prepare properly and then play in our style. I believe that if we do both then we can be successful.”
The striker cites Celtic’s first half display at Ibrox in the 3-3 draw with Rangers as recent evidence of his team capabilities.
“It was an exciting match and, I think an entertaining one for everyone to watch,” he said.
“It was the first time I have ever experienced a match like that.
“As I mentioned, it was very exciting because of everything that happened on the pitch.
“And, of course, that made it a very entertaining one for supporters, for anyone who watched it really.
“It is unusual for a derby to deliver that type of match. For me that is what made it special.
“From our perspective it was a good game because we performed well in it. We played the kind of football that we wanted to play and did so to a high level.”
And the striker believes it is whether they can reproduce that football in the coming weeks that will decide whether Celtic’s season is a success or a failure.
“We still have some games to play, and those games will decide whether or not we achieve our ambitions,” he said. “My own aim is to help us win the competitions we still have open to us, and my focus is all on preparing as best I can to ready myself for each of the challenges that lie ahead.”
The good news for Celtic is their talisman reports his troublesome shoulder problem to be no issue.
“Everything is good with me. I have no problems or fitness concerns just now,” he said.
“I am feeling sharp and ready for what the rest of the season brings.”