Hampden hero Kyogo Furuhashi insists Celtic are determined to prove they’ll be the ones smiling by the end of the season.
He fired Celtic to Viaplay Cup glory with his deadly double against arch rivals Rangers. Kyogo stuck two past Hibs in the final last season and became the first Celt to make it back-to-back braces in the League Cup showpiece since Billy McPhail completed the feat with his hat-trick in the famous 7-1 win against Rangers in 1957.
Celtic were riled up by Rangers wideman Fashion Sakala claiming his side were better than the champions in the build up. But the Parkhead men produced a show of power as they completed the first leg of a Treble yesterday with their seventh League Cup win in nine years, with a commanding Premiership lead and the Scottish Cup to come. But history-maker Kyogo said: “I just want to smile at the end of the season with the rest of the team.”
The 28-year-old stole the show again but he was determined to share the glory with his Hoops pals. Kyogo said: “I am just happy and humble that I was able to score two goals in this final and we were able to win the cup once more. But it was because of the effort of the entire team and fans that we were able to win this cup.”
Kyogo insisted in the build up to the Hampden showdown that he was not yet a great player – and he is sticking to his claim despite already earning his place among the Celtic greats. He said: “I think I still have a lot of improving to do to become a better player, and contribute to the team, which is the most important thing to me.
“I am very happy right now. I want to thank all my team-mates for the support. They are always giving me good passes, always setting me up to score the goals. I am happy that I can repay them by scoring.”
Kyogo was a constant scourge for Rangers and could have notched before he opened the scoring just before the interval. He struck again after the half-time interval but it was job done as far as the hitman was concerned.
Kyogo – who has hit three goals in his last two Old Firm clashes – said: “I thought Daizen Maeda was going to score (for the first) but then the ball came to me, so I thought it was my duty to score! I’m a striker, it’s my duty to score as many goals as possible and take advantage of as many chances as I can. I had chances before I scored which I missed, so I was happy to go on and score two goals in this game.”
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou hailed the hero and branded the livelier striker as priceless. He said: “It’s invaluable to have a player who is willing to do everything in his power to help the team.
“It’s not about his goals. Obviously they are the most important thing, but he works so hard. He’s another that whatever rewards he gets, they are hard earned.
“He’s not floating about there just waiting for a chance. He’s running his socks off to do things other strikers won’t do because he knows it’s the right thing for the team.
“Players at this football club are often measured by how they perform on the biggest of stages and he delivers again. He has played in two finals for us now and scored four goals.
“You look at him, the size he is and the players he is up against and he doesn’t shirk any of it. He puts the opposition under pressure, he’s so clever with movement and he wants to be front and centre when the opportunities are there.
“He was outstanding and has been from the moment he joined this club. He’s an unbelievable young man.”
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