ANGE Postecoglou last night expressed confidence that Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate will be able to put their disappointment at missing out on Qatar 2022 firmly behind them when Celtic play Real Madrid tonight.
Parkhead forward Daizen Maeda was yesterday named in the Japan squad for the World Cup finals later this month – but his club mates and countrymen Furuhashi and Hatate were both omitted.
It was a blow to the striker and midfielder ahead of the Glasgow club’s final Champions League group match ahead of holders Real in the Bernabeu this evening.
However, Postecoglou, who will be without his stand-in skipper Cameron Carter-Vickers here in Spain because of the minor knee injury the centre half suffered in the cinch Premiership win against Livingston at Almondvale on Sunday, has no fears about the pair’s mindset.
“They’ll be disappointed, of course they will be disappointed,” said the former Australia manager.
“But with these kind of things, my experience is they will have probably got wind of it a few days ago. It is rarely a shock. Usually somebody within the organisation would have notified them.
“They are both strong, determined characters. Nothing is going to stop Reo from being the best footballer he can be. Kyogo? His nature never changes, mate.
“He is always smiling, always happy. He loves what he does and that won’t change. But it is good motivation for them. They both have a World Cup in them if they miss out on this one.”
Postecoglou, who managed Australia in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, refused to rule out the prospect of Furuhashi receiving a late call-up for Qatar 2022.
“Every country has an extended list so there is always that possibility if there are any injuries between now and then that they can change it,” he said. “Kyogo is probably on that list. Whether they call him up, you don’t know.”
Asked if Furuhashi and Hatate not playing at Qatar 2022 will help Celtic this season, Postecoglou said: “Nah, I don’t see it that way.
“Going to a World Cup is an unbelievable experience. I was fortunate enough to have that. And you come back, feeling better about yourself.
“As a manager, you have competed against the world’s best and been in that atmosphere and you want more of it.
“I don’t see it that way, it would have been great for them to be there. It is great that Diazen’s there. He’ll come back a much more confident - not that he isn’t confident.
“It is like playing in the Champions League. You play at a World Cup and you just feel the growth, feel different about yourself because you have experienced football the very best.”
Postecoglou revealed that Carl Starfelt, who has been sidelined since the 4-0 win over Rangers at Parkhead back in September, could come back in to the Celtic starting line-up against Real tonight in the absence of Carter-Vickers.
“He (Carter-Vickers) should be right for the weekend,” he said. “He’s just come back from a knee injury and he’s just got a bit of soreness. He’s one of the few who has played every game so we’ve got to be conscious of that and with the short turnaround we felt it was best we left him at home for this one.”
Asked if he felt the artificial Almondvale pitch was responsible for the injury, Postecoglou said: “It didn’t help. I mean, a few of the boys to be fair were pretty sore afterwards. It’s just not a great pitch for that. But the others have rebounded well.
“Look, at a stretch I could have played Cameron in this game. But I just think, with three important games next week, we should leave him at home.”
Asked if Swedish internationalist Starfelt could return against Real, he said: “Yeah, absolutely. He’s trained fully and is ready to go. So he’s got an opportunity.”
