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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Kyogo Furuhashi in misfiring Celtic confession as Champions League 'luck' excuse swerved with blunt verdict

Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi reckons he must be more clinical in Europe for the Scottish champions after his Champions League group stage performance.

The striker has impressed under Ange Postecoglou during his second season in Scottish football having netted 11 goals in all competitions and helping his side to the top of the Premiership with the league in cold storage for the World Cup, however none of the 27-year-old's goals came against Europe's elite clubs. Finding their scoring touch proved to be Celtic's undoing in the Champions League as they finished rock bottom of Group F, but the Japan cap has refused to make any excuses for the misfiring frontmen.

Speaking to The Athletic, Kyogo refused to accept that he had simply been "unfortunate" not to open his Champions League account this term. He said: “Luck plays a role in scoring but it’s also about a little more accuracy and precision.

"On the one hand, it is important that we have had these opportunities to score. On the other hand, I have to continue working on scoring to reach the next level in my development.”

Kyogo was a surprising snub for Samurai Blue squad called up for the World, with Hajime Moriyasu only calling Daizen Maeda from the Celtic Park Japaense contingent. He admitted he hasn't spoken too much about the call-up with teammates Maeda and Reo Hatate.

“I haven’t talked much to other Japanese players about the nomination this time. I briefly congratulated Daizen Maeda and immediately focused on the next game with Celtic. Either way, my motivation remains the same: I want to score as many goals as possible for my club and do my best so that our club wins games, and as many titles as possible. The World Cup would have been an extension of my way with our club."

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