Celtic cynics might not be able to manage their way out of empty rooms – just look at the nonsense about Kyogo
It's probably those same people Brendan Rodgers was on about the other day. The ones who can’t manage their way out of an empty room.
The same folk who pick holes in Celtic’s considerable achievements at times and look for problems when there are very few. In fairness, most of them have Hoops season tickets rather than being mean old media, but that’s not the point. Some of the glass half full brigade have jerky knees and there was some twitching before Christmas when their team was only winning and not smashing opponents out of sight in the process.
Among some of the, erm, concerns, was this cracker. Kyogo has gone off the boil. Or rather, after his two goals against St Johnstone, Kyogo was back in form. As if to say he was off it before. It’s total nonsense of course. Kyogo has had the odd quiet day but has kept ticking over. He scored the December goal of the month with his sublime skip and finish number against Hibs and that Saints double took his tally to 10 for the term.
The Japanese striker is just one off top scorer in the league too. Hardly time for panic. And while the people who can’t find their way out of empty rooms worry, Rodgers knows that Kyogo will be the one banging on the door at Ibrox. There might be some mld debate over some of the midfield roles, perhaps over who starts at left back and in the centre of defence. But there really shouldn’t be any doubt over who gets the nod up front.
Kyogo has been a nightmare for Rangers in his time in Scotland with eight goals in 16 games against the local chums. It might be tempting to chuck Adam Idah on from the start given his physical presence and the fact Robin Propper had admitted himself that he’s a bit of a delicate flower.
But the Irishman’s power will be handy come from the bench. It will be down to Kyogo and his rapid movement to soften up the Gers backline and take them places they don’t want to go. Not that Rodgers needs any advice, of course.
It often raises a slight chuckle when Rodgers talks about criticism. The Celtic boss has been showered by so much praise in his time in Scotland he has no need for those Christmas Lynx bathroom sets.
There might have been a few adverse words last season after he himself admitted his side were too slow on occasions but they’ve been laminated and nailed to his wall ever since. It’s a siege mentality ploy that is as old as time – and it clearly works a treat at Lennoxtown.
Celtic have managed to brilliantly block out the endless piles of platitudes sent their way and managed to hoard the odd jibe for later use. You can’t knock it. Sir Alex Ferguson made a career out of mining for motivation and it’s far closer to the surface in Scotland.
And it’s a fair bet there’s been some of it ploughed up in the build up to this one today. The League Cup Final fallout focused on Rangers feeling hard done by at Hampden, with that extra time penalty shout, rather than on Celtic’s latest triumph.
At least that is the perception. In reality, the Parkhead side’s achievement was recognised. It’s just that the team expected to win, won, and the only real intrigue was in the way the game unfolded, including that flashpoint.
No one is taking anything away from the fact Rodgers has impressively assembled a trophy gathering machine. He’s built on the swashbuckling style of Ange Postecoglou and forged his own vision of a thrilling team – that is also secure at the back.
Fifteen clean sheets in 18 league games is some going and the ferocious desire to keep the ball out of their own net – even when often already out of sight in games – is something that probably should have been hailed as loudly as the other stuff.
Again, it’s just that Kyogo’s nifty firework and Nicolas Kuhn’s mazy runs that are sexier talking points. Punters in pubs and on internet forums don’t tend to get worked up by Cameron Carter-Vickers reading a dangerous pass like he was Mystic Meg or Alistair Johnston racing back 60 yards to stick the ball out for a throw-in.
But all of this stuff means Celtic will be going to Ibrox like men on a mission. They might have a 14 point lead and the Premiership trophy practically under lock and key, yet they will go across the city with a feeling they have something to prove, even if it’s not something based in reality.
That’s the mentality that has driven this club for more than a decade, with Rodgers superbly setting the tone. The Celtic manager could settle for a point at Ibrox. He could send his side out to contain, frustrate and get back up the road with the same huge gap.
But he won’t. Rodgers has smelled blood in these parts before and gone in for the kill. He might say he treats every derby like his first but he’s hooked on the taste of victory, and how to achieve it.
The slightest suggestion from some that Rangers figured his side out in that opening half at Hampden will have him and his players worked up big time. And he’ll be licking his lips at the prospect of going at an injury-hit ramshackle Rangers defence. Never mind an empty room, Rodgers knows his way into a full trophy cabinet and the likes of Kyogo will be holding the key.
