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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Copeland

Japan boss wants to build Celtic bridges with Ange as he pleads for 'friendly relations' amid Hatate and Kyogo snubs

Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu says he wants to sit down and build a "friendly relationship" with Ange Postecoglou as he gets set to tour Europe and assess his squad options.

Moriyasu has been criticised in his homeland for his refusal to pick Kyogo and Reo Hatate despite them starring for Celtic on a regular basis. Despite picking Daizen Maeda, he claimed the reason for their continued snub was down to the quality of the league and that raised the ire of many in Scotland. But Postecoglou was quick to insist there were no issues and extended the invitation to Moriyasu to pop in when he travels to Europe to watch some of his potential call-ups.

His tour will include a stop off in the UK and Moriyasu said he wants to meet Ange while he's over. He told Japanese media: "The coach is always welcoming, he tells me about the current situation of the Japanese players and I receive useful information for the benefit of the national team. I hope we can build more friendly relations. He is a coach that I myself respect, so if there is an opportunity to talk to him, I would like to go."

Speaking on Moriyasu previously, Postecoglou had said: "Hajime has been here before to visit us and we have had other staff from the Japan national team too. There have been other coaches visit too, and I believe Jurgen Klinsmann (now head coach of South Korea) is planning a trip.

"There are no issues. I would be happy to see him. I know Hajime very well from my time over there and I would be happy to see him. We are a very welcoming club for everyone.”

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