The Premiership title will return to Parkhead this weekend, and Celtic can still usher it through the door with a fine record to boot.
Not since the Lisbon Lions in 1967 have they scored so many goals in a single season. Back then, Jock Stein’s side racked up a staggering 111 over 34 games to set a target that has been unmatchable for 56 years.
Sitting on 107, the all-time record of 116 from 1916 would require consecutive demolition jobs in the two final fixtures against Hibs and Aberdeen this week. Still, though, surpassing the Lions would neatly underline the commitment to attacking football instilled by Ange Postecoglou.
Kyogo Furuhashi has contributed 23 of those goals in the league, and 31 overall for the season, and he believes the team notching, at least, another four before the curtain comes down on the campaign is well within their grasp.
“We need four more goals to match that record,” the Japanese striker said. “Can I score four more? I don’t know if I can do it! But as a team, I believe it is definitely achievable in the remaining two games.
“I know there is a lot of history at this clubs and a lot of great achievements, from great teams like the Lisbon Lions. Teams like that one are the reason the club is where it is today, and it’s the reason we are all here today.
“You see the pictures on the walls around the stadium and you hear a lot about the great history. I will be glad if one day my picture is on the walls as well, but there are many things I need to do before then. That’s my focus.
“It would be nice to get to the record, but if we want to enjoy such a moment we need to prepare well in training and produce performances in the matches.”
Number 31 for Kyogo arrived in thumping fashion in an otherwise underwhelming draw with St Mirren on Saturday. Played in by Reo Hatate, the 28-year-old smashed high beyond Trevor Carson into the roof of the net, the finish of a man playing with the highest confidence.
Overall, though, there has been a certain meandering feel about the conclusion to Celtic’s Premiership schedule. It seems only natural that securing the title would be followed by a drop-off in intensity.
Ange Postecoglou, though, still expressed disappointment in the standard of his team’s defending, admitting that they had ‘come off it’ in recent weeks. Kyogo admitted he was pleased to get himself on the scoresheet once again, but shared his manager’s frustration at being held 2-2.
Curtis Main, who seems to consistently enjoy playing Celtic, notched a first-half double and could quite feasibly have added three more after the interval. It took Callum McGregor’s late intervention to secure a point, but it was still only the second time under Postecoglou’s management that Celtic had failed to win across two consecutive domestic matches.
A couple of defensive lapses and an error from Joe Hart proved costly, and although there’s nothing riding on these games for the champions, Postecoglou’s demand for consistently high standards mean they won’t be brushed off.
“It was nice to score another goal but I always aim to score goals to win the game,” said Kyogo. “There is always the target to score as many goals as I can and hopefully I can add to my total in the final matches of the season.
“The most important thing is to win the matches though. It was a difficult game but eventually we managed to get back level. Obviously I was disappointed not to win the match.
“We’ll work hard on things in training and try to make sure we win our next match.
“We try to set our standards as high as possible and if you can reach that level in every game, that is very good. It is not always possible but you have to make that the target.
It would be overly pessimistic to suggest these last few weeks will have any bearing on the upcoming Scottish Cup final on June 3. Celtic would be overwhelming favourites against Inverness Caledonian Thistle anyway, never mind the Highland side arriving at Hampden having had a month off from competitive action.
Billy Dodds’ team were in Northern Ireland at the weekend for a warm-up match against Dungannon Swifts, but there’s no real substitute for meaningful matches. They may take some heart from Celtic huffing and puffing their way to the national stadium, but it would still be a monumental shock if they were deny Postecoglou’s side a treble.
Until then, though, Kyogo insists his focus is on closing out the league term with two victories. He believes rebuilding some momentum is important if Celtic are to be at their best on the day, and that the best way to do so is snapping out of their current lull at Easter Road on Wednesday and back to Celtic Park on Saturday.
“I am not thinking about the Scottish Cup Final yet. We have two games to go and we want to win these matches.
“It will be important to be at our best in the Final because it is another big game with a trophy.
“But the most important thing is to focus on these games because we want to build some momentum before then.
“Continuity is very important for us.”
