If you don’t love Kyogo you don’t love football
Ange slams ‘big brave warriors’ who question star’s courage
ANGE POSTECOGLOU
last night took a flamethrower to the couch-sitting critics who claim Kyogo Furuhashi is guilty of theatrics.
The Celtic manager let rip at the pundits who have pointed the finger at the Parkhead striker in recent weeks and accused snipers
BY of pushing an agenda. And he insisted all football fans should relish the fact he’s part of the Scottish game.
Postecoglou may rest the Japan star for tonight’s Europa League clash at home to Real Betis.
But the Hoops boss came out fighting in defence of his hero hitman on the back of flashpoints against Hearts and Livingston.
Postecoglou – who also confirmed Jota will miss next week’s Premier Sports Cup Final – said: “It always amuses me when I hear these big, brave warriors sitting on the sidelines
judging guys like Kyogo – who’s literally built like a jockey playing against guys who are six foot three – questioning his bravery or his courage in playing the game. “Look, I haven’t followed that narrative and it’s not something I’d be interested in having meaningful discussion because it virtually is centred around ignorance and probably having an agenda. “So I’m not going to do that. What I will say is I would be very surprised if any people
turn who love football, irrespective of who they support, don’t think Kyogo is great for this competition.
“He is certainly great for our football club. Our supporters love him, which is the most important thing, even for the competition. He’s exciting to watch.
“He’s trying to improve every day. He’s a great guy to have around, he’s an absolute
gentleman and beyond that I’m not brave enough to take on all these other big courageous, couch-sitting, observers of the game, mate.”
Postecoglou reckons Kyogo is a target for defenders instead – but he won’t complain about his star man having a bullseye on his back.
He said: “I’m sure the opposition will try to stop him. But I’d like to think they’re doing that in legal ways. Kyogo doesn’t expect to go out there and not get marked or not get attention, physical or otherwise.
“So that’s no issue. I’m sure he’s had that already, mate. I don’t think people have been ignoring him since day one. I mean, you can’t ignore him because the first game he played in Europe he scored.
“But that’s not an issue. This is not an on-field issue. This is an issue brought about by people who aren’t actually out there. So for me it’s a non-issue.”
The manager refused to put the boot in to Dundee United’s Calum Butcher, with the player handed a three-match ban for his eye-watering challenge on David Turnbull on Sunday.
Postecoglou, meanwhile, conceded defeat in Jota’s race to be fit to face Hibs at Hampden a week on Sunday.
He has an outside chance of making the Old Firm clash on January 2 as the manager said: “He won’t be right for the cup final. We’ll just have to see how he recovers from it.”