Pundit lambasts Celtic in ‘brutal’ verdict after Kyogo latest via Sky
Bringing Kyogo Furuhashi on against Real Betis was the “worst decision” Ange Postecoglou has made as Celtic manager, according to Alan Hutton.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider’s Russell Edge, insisted the Australian boss should have played “anybody else” instead of the 26-year-old.
As quoted by Sky Sports on Tuesday (14 December), Postecoglou confessed the Japanese international is still a doubt for Sunday’s Scottish League Cup final against Hibernian after suffering an injury against Betis.
Furuhashi, who replaced the injured Albian Ajeti after 28 minutes against Betis, limped off himself 43 minutes later.
With the Hoops’ star forward a major doubt, Hutton insisted the blame lies solely at Postecoglou’s door.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s the worst decision he’s made this season, if we’re going to be brutally honest.
“A game that means absolutely nothing. Ajeti pulls his hamstring, Kyogo has a two-minute warmup and then he’s thrown into the game.
“It was actually a good game. For Celtic making changes and it not meaning anything, the players actually looked like they were playing for their position. That was good to see.
“But play anybody up there instead of him. It didn’t mean anything, play anybody else.
“There must be a young boy coming through that could have taken that spot. It was a game that didn’t mean anything.”
Furuhashi has scored 14 goals and contributed five assists in his 24 appearances this season.
Celtic managed to beat Motherwell 1-0 without the Japanese star on Sunday.
In other news, expert predicts Celtic fan backlash after Police Scotland statement.