Brendan Rodgers purrs as Celtic make the ball 'smile' and reveals how Yang's GIRLFRIEND inspired Korean's crucial cameo
Brendan Rodgers revealed Yang's GIRLFRIEND is the secret reason behind the wide man’s sensational star turn against St Mirren.
The Korean kid produced a stunning display from the bench as Celtic produced a late burst to see off the Buddies in a 5-2 win to go 16 points clear at the top of the table. Yang headed straight for the florists after bagging a superb double and providing a stunning assist for Daizen Maeda on a big night in the title race.
Boss Rodgers declared the victory as one of the best of the season – and admitted his delight with Yang’s recent red hot form. He said: “His girlfriend is here at the moment. I said to the guys, let's see if we can get that VISA and keep her here! Everyone knows he’s in a really good mood and has been for a while. He scored his two goals and the one that was disallowed, but his pass for Daizen’s goal, to see it and then to execute it, wow, what a pass.
“He’s a young player who is developing and improving. He’s played a really important role for us.
“I think he would have stayed there all night, to be fair to him. But it's so good for him. He's such a great kid. He works so hard every single day. He doesn't moan, he doesn't groan. He's a tough boy, he's physical. It hasn't always come off for him because he's adapting to the intensity and the pressure. But now you're starting to see a young guy evolve as a football player and as a person, and I'm so, so happy for him.”
Yang lapped up the party in the away end after the final whistle and admitted having his mrs at home has helped him find form. He said: “It’s nice she is here. She wasn’t at the game as it’s too far and she can’t drive! She was watching on television though.
“I feel I have been playing better since she came so I have to be thankful to her! Even at home, she cooks and helps out for me. I think I might have to buy her some flowers on the way home!
“I was very happy and thankful to have been given the opportunity to play. I can’t really remember my emotions at the end – I was so overwhelmed at the celebrations.
“I always had the mindset to prepare for each game, I would train as hard as I could and I feel the hard work and patience has been rewarded.
“I always wanted to have that moment with the supporters and celebrate with them. I think this was my best performance for Celtic so far.”
Rodgers was beaming at the win on a tough night in Paisley where Saints pegged his side back twice before the final half hour push. He said: “This is one of my favourite results of the season. Why? Because we are coming to a team you can see are difficult to play against, the surface is very difficult and it’s on the back of a third game of the week.
“We were so good in our attacking play. We needed the freshness, the energy of the players coming into the game.
“They made the football smile for us. To come here and get five goals, I was so, so pleased.
“We always knew this would be a tough place to come. We can only look after ourselves.
“I’m just so happy for the players to come through what I mentioned a few months ago would be a very busy, intense period.
“I've always wanted to sprint over the line in any of the competitions that we've been in. So we sit in a great position, 16 points clear with the goal difference, you can say, is an extra point. But we're in a really, really good place, and the players are so deserving of it. But we still have a lot of work to do.”
