RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose has opened up on his admiration for Celtic trio Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League meeting at the Red Bull Arena, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
A tally of one point from two games really doesn’t do Celtic’s group-stage performance thus far much justice. The Hoops went toe-to-toe with Real Madrid for the first 50 minutes at Parkhead and then outplayed Shakhtar Donetsk away from home, only to be caught out at the back by a couple of months of truly elite-level quality.
There are no rewards for aesthetics, however, as Ange Postecoglou’s side are finding out.
Results are required, then, during the double-header with Leipzig.
Can Celtic keep their Champions League campaign alive in Germany?
“Watching them play is a lot of fun,” says Rose, the former Borussia Dortmund and Salzburg coach who recently took over from Domenico Tedesco.
“Especially the Japanese players. They are players who affect the shape of the game and the team: they are small, lively, and extremely dangerous. Particularly in one-on-one situations. Overall, however, Celtic are a team with a very clear and proactive game idea.
“Postecoglou is doing a great job.”
The masterful Hatate and the stylish Kyogo (arguably Celtic’s greatest goal threat) are expected to start in Germany. But will Maeda get the nod too? His rapid pace and relentless pressing could certainly come in very handy. Especially against a team vulnerable to quick counters.
“This is the first match and it is the most important one because it is next,” Rose adds, via The National. “Then we will travel there and play the second leg in Glasgow. Celtic have been a great team effort off the ball and in possession.
“Furuhashi, for example, is very dangerous in front of goal and they have other (good) players. In the number six role, (Callum) McGregor has been doing a great job. He can relieve pressure and, in the number eight positions, they play very clearly.
“It’s just a great team.”
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