Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has never been one to mince words, and after his team’s narrow 1-0 win over Young Boys, he was quick to criticize one of his own players, Kyogo Furuhashi.
Furuhashi, who has been in the headlines recently for expressing his desire to leave Celtic, had a lackluster performance in the match against Young Boys. Despite being given the opportunity to prove himself on the pitch, Furuhashi failed to make an impact and was ultimately substituted in the second half.
In his post-match press conference, Rodgers did not hold back in his assessment of Furuhashi’s performance. “I expect all of my players to give their all for the team, regardless of their personal situation,” Rodgers said. “Unfortunately, Kyogo did not meet those expectations today. He was not at his best and did not contribute as much as we needed him to.”
Rodgers’ comments come at a time when Furuhashi’s future at Celtic is uncertain. The Japanese forward has reportedly expressed his desire to leave the club, with several European teams rumored to be interested in signing him. Furuhashi’s lackluster performance against Young Boys will not have helped his case to secure a move away from Celtic.
Despite the criticism, Rodgers did acknowledge that Furuhashi has been a key player for Celtic this season. The 26-year-old has been in fine form since joining the club in the summer, scoring 15 goals in 26 appearances. However, Rodgers made it clear that individual performances do not excuse a lack of effort on the pitch.
“It’s important for every player to show commitment and passion for the team, regardless of their personal circumstances,” Rodgers added. “If Kyogo wants to leave Celtic, that’s his decision. But as long as he is a member of this squad, he needs to give his all for the club.”
Rodgers’ comments will likely only add fuel to the speculation surrounding Furuhashi’s future at Celtic. With the January transfer window approaching, it remains to be seen whether the Japanese forward will stay at the club or seek a move elsewhere.
For now, Furuhashi will need to focus on improving his performances on the pitch and proving his worth to both Rodgers and the Celtic fans. The criticism from his manager may serve as a wake-up call for the talented forward, who will need to show his commitment to the club if he wants to earn a move to a new team.
As for Rodgers, he will be hoping that his tough love approach will motivate Furuhashi to perform at his best in the coming matches. With Celtic chasing success both domestically and in Europe, the manager will need all of his players firing on all cylinders if they are to achieve their goals this season.
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