Chris Sutton blames Celtic squad in ‘phenomenal’ Rangers and Kyogo Furuhashi verdict
Chris Sutton has praised Kyogo Furuhashi for his “phenomenal” goalscoring record against Rangers despite his drop-off in form this season.
Writing on the Daily Record website on Saturday (10 February), the pundit said the Japanese international is “sharper in movement and brain” than any other player in the Scottish Premiership.
But he argued that a drop in levels and a slip in standards amongst the rest of the Hoops squad has led to the 29-year-old having fewer scoring opportunities, with the forward unable to register the goals to hand his side a healthy lead in the title race over the Gers.
“He is a difference maker,” said Sutton. “He’s shown it for two seasons as a big-game player. Kyogo’s record against Rangers is phenomenal. He’s a proven match-winner who is sharper in movement and brain than anyone else in the Scottish Premiership.
“His awareness with the give and go and shot that won the second penalty at Easter Road decided the game. It’s the drop in levels around him which is the problem. Not Kyogo. That’s on the slip in standards of his supply line. Ange Postecoglou found a way to supply him, Rodgers has not.”
Lack of Kyogo Furuhashi goals for Celtic benefiting Rangers
It’s pretty clear that the lack of goals from Kyogo this season is hampering Celtic after he put up sensational numbers in the previous couple of campaigns.
He has been a thorn in the Rangers side during that time, having scored some big goals in the Old Firm clashes since arriving from Japanese club Vissel Kobe in 2021.
The forward has been nowhere near as effective this season after scoring 11 goals in 33 matches, which has surely played a part in the Hoops dropping points in games where they wouldn’t have done in the past.
That has opened the door for the Gers to steel in and close the gap at the top of the SPL to just three points, with Philippe Clement’s side still having a game in hand on their Old Firm rivals.
They have been in excellent form since the Belgian arrived at Ibrox and he will be confident that his side can go all the way as they look to pick up another trophy this season.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has rubbished talk about an “excellent” Gers star.
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