Celtic: What now for Jota and Brendan Rodgers after Kyogo Furuhashi exit?
2025-01-28
Category: sports

Under Ange Postecoglou, Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota appeared to have the football world at their feet. Two years on, they - along with their former Celtic manager - are at a career crossroads.Kyogo has decided he prefers a relegation battle in Ligue 1 to chasing more silverware and playing in the Champions League with Celtic, while Jota has swapped places with him at Rennes, returning to Glasgow after bruising experiences in Saudi Arabia and France.But where does it leave current Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers in terms of replacing the Japanese striker's goal threat - and where does the Portuguese winger fit in?
'Kyogo lit up the place'
Kyogo had never played domestic football outside of his homeland until Postecoglou tapped into his knowledge as a manager in Japan to raid Vissel Kobe and find a spearhead for his ultra-attacking style.It was a perfect marriage of tactics and personnel, the Japan international's clinical darting runs and six-yard-box finishing complementing deadly wing deliveries from international team-mate Daizen Maeda, Jota, or Liel Abada.Kyogo was soon being hailed as Celtic's best striker since the legendary Henrik Larsson as he led the charge towards three league titles, three League Cups and two Scottish Cups.Some of his 85 goals were particularly crucial, rising to the big occasion as he netted eight times in 17 Old Firm derbies, contributed trophy-winning braces in successive League Cup finals and scored eight times in 28 appearances in European competition.Yet now embattled Postecoglou's departure to Tottenham Hotspur - and Rodgers' arrival - signalled a less fruitful time individually for Kyogo, who was also to fall out of favour at international level.From a high of 27 league goals - an average of a goal per game - during his second season at Celtic Park, his total dropped to half that in his first season under Rodgers as he adapted to the Northern Irishman's slightly more pragmatic style.His 19 goals that season in all competitions was equalled by a midfielder - Matt O'Riley, later to be sold to Brighton & Hove Albion.Kygo has found the net 10 times in the Premiership this season and, although that was an improved rate of  0.7 per game and his assist rate has also increased in the past two seasons, he never looked quite as effective, or comfortable, under Rodgers.As former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner told BBC Scotland: "After Ange Postecoglou, you could see a difference in the way Kyogo responded."When he first came here, he lit up the place - I've not seen many strikers with his movement. When the change was made, his head went down, you could see the frustration on the pitch."Bonner thought Kyogo's form returned after "Celtic started to play with a mix of Ange Postecoglou, more on the front foot, more passing forward".However, it was no surprise to learn last week from Rodgers himself that the 30-year-old had expressed some months ago his desire to move on - and Kyogo explained to Rennes' website that he wanted to test himself in a more competitive European league.With a move in the offing, Kyogo nearly finished his Celtic career with a flourish - three disallowed first-half goals in the Champions League win over Young Boys reminding all at Celtic Park what they once had, and did not quite have in the past two years.
Nostalgic Jota looks to recapture magic
Neither Celtic nor Rennes mentioned anything about fees changing hands for the player swap, but either way, Celtic will have made a profit considering Jota was sold to Al-Ittihad for a reported Â£25m.What they will hope for now is that the 25-year-old returns something akin to the player he was when he burst on to the Premiership scene, initially on loan from Benfica before Celtic took up the option to buy.During his four seasons with Celtic, Kyogo scored at least 15 more league winners than the next best Celtic player - but that was actually Jota with eight, despite the Portuguese being an out-and-out wide man.Since then, however, Jota found himself initially left out of Al-Ittihad's Saudi Pro League squad and eventually only turned out 19 times for the side who finished fifth in the league.He has fared little better since being sold to Rennes last summer and only featured 10 times, just three of them starts, for a side currently sitting third bottom of Ligue 1 and on a run of five straight defeats.Jota described his return to Celtic as "nostalgic", but the club will be hoping that the form that led to 28 goals and 26 assists under Postecoglou is not firmly in the past.While his average goals per game has remained steady at around 0.4 since his departure, his assists completely dried up in Saudi Arabia and France.The Portuguese's arrival will no doubt hasten the departure of Luis Palma, who was already out of the picture and destined to be sold, but he finds himself competing on the wing with Celtic's find of the season, Nicolas Kuhn, Maeda and back-ups Yang Hyun-Jyu and James Forrest.Celtic will hope that, in Kyogo, they have not just let go the missing link to Jota's effectiveness as they seek a new top marksman.
Who will replace Kyogo?
The most obvious replacement for Kyogo is already on Celtic's books, albeit a different kind of striker.More of a typical target man, Adam Idah impressed enough on loan during the second half of last season to persuade Celtic to sign him permanently last summer from Norwich City for a reported Â£9m.However, while eight goals in 15 league games last season gave him a strike rate of 1.2 per game (higher than Kyogo), it has dropped to 0.5 in his 10 appearances this term - and a barren spell since November has led to doubts about his ability to be the natural successor to the Japanese.Rodgers promised he would give the Irishman "the time, the patience, the support" to prove the talent the manager believes he has.However, Bonner is just one of many who have suggested Jota's arrival on the left wing could give Rodgers the opportunity to move Maeda up front, where the 27-year-old was at times even preferred to Kyogo at international level.Maeda's goals per game ratio has dropped from 0.5 in his first season under Postecoglou to 0.3 currently, but he has still scored as many this season as Idah despite playing wide, albeit starting more games.Johnny Kenny is also back from a prolific loan spell in his native Ireland with Shamrock Rovers, but it is likely too soon for the 21-year-old to challenge for a starting place.Little wonder then that Rodgers said they had long been planning "to bring in another quality player in that position" and newspaper speculation has again linked Celtic with Brondby's 22-year-old Mathias Kvistgaarden.Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton suggested selling Kyogo "feels like Celtic have just put their hands up and admitted there's a ceiling on their Champions League ambitions".The Premiership leaders will hope to prove him wrong when they visit Aston Villa in their final game on Wednesday before the February play-offs.
'Sad exit' but 'great bit of business'
We asked for your thoughts on the double deal between Celtic and Rennes. Here is a selection.Neil: Jota signing a great bit of business. I'm sure he will be a success. Kyogo, strange move! Why go to a relegation dogfight and leave a potential treble behind? A good servant, but in recent times missed too many clear chances. Great business returning Â£10m. I think he will regret his move to France. New striker please!Stephen: Kyogo, so sad he is away. Such a huge character to be missing from Scottish football. However, to my recollection, Jota was good domestically, but he never excelled on the European stage for Celtic.Ged: It's tremendous to have Jota back. A left-footed player with sublime skill and shooting ability, plus great acceleration. He will rediscover his form in his spiritual home.Kevin: Jota signing another step back. We need a striker - not another glory winger.John: He'll be a huge miss, not only his goals and his movement but his infectious personality. His enthusiasm for the game lit up the whole stadium. That has waned a little this season, obviously in his body language. We'd have bigger problems had we been totally depending on only his goals. We're not.Kevin: Kyogo was fantastic but clearly wanted to go (change of agent in the summer was a big hint) and welcome back Jota. He should be rested and raring to go. Now, Kieran Tierney and a striker please.Kenny: Jota will have some grace from fans from first time around, when he was excellent, but will need to get back on it quickly. Kyogo will need replaced as this is an area that Idah needs support. Can utilise Maeda short term, with Kenny close and Cummings waiting in the wings.Mark: Trying to reason why Kyogo would give up Celtic Park and Champions League nights for French mediocrity. Celtic must now get in Kvistgaarden if they want to progress in Europe. Jota is a great signing but not the main goalscorer.Gordy: Absolutely fantastic signing. Jota was outstanding in his first stint with us and, if he can hit those heights again, he will take us to another level. The board and Brendan have done a fantastic piece if business. Add a striker to replace Kyogo and I think we will be in a great place for the remainder of the season.