KYOGO FURUHASHI hopes European kings Real Madrid take stage fright at Parkhead.
Celtic have been drawn against the 14 times-winners of Europe’s elite competition along with Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Hoops were paired with the most glamorous club of all in Group F in the ballot in Istanbul last night – and the Japanese international striker is eager to get started against the Madrid masters.
HAPPY DAZE…Kyogo Furuhashi and Moritz Jenz are all smiles as they learn Celtic’s Champions League draw at Parkhead. Image courtesy of Celtic TV.
Kyogo said: “To have them at Celtic Park will be very nice because we have great supporters and they give us all energy.
“So, hopefully, the atmosphere itself scares them and we, as players, just play football and do what we have to do and bring them victory and make everybody happy.
“I’ve heard that the atmosphere gets really amazing and I just excited to play the games as soon as possible.
“I don’t know in total how many minutes I will play in the competition, but I would like to help our team with my goals and the high pressure.
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates his goal in the 5-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park with Josip Juranovic looking on.
“And to help our defence line and throughout my play I would like to help our team and fans and show our best version of football.
”I have been watching Champions League for a long time and I have been dreaming of playing in the group stages, so I would like to show all children in Japan and all over the world that if you work hard you can be whatever you want to be.”
Kyogo, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “In the group we have all good teams and they have a good style of football, so I want them to think about us as a tough team because we have a special style of football and it must be very tough for them.
“So, we have a confidence and we can do it, but we’re just focusing on each game and if we put everything into it, then we will have a good result in the group stage. We will work hard to get a good result.
SMILES BETTER…Kyogo Furuhashi acts as Celtic cheerleader after the 3-1 win over Ross County in Dingwall.
“We keep moving the ball and we keep moving our bodies, so we don’t let the opponents take a rest, this is why I think our football is special.
“If we keep doing what we are doing, we can create a lot of goals in some games, even when we play against a tough team, we can still keep our discipline, moving balls and moving bodies, and that confuses the opponent.
“I think we can keep our discipline and play our football against any level of teams, so we just have the confidence to show our football. This is why I think our football is special.”
Kyogo has an excellent pedigree with the Hoops in European competition and netted his first goal for the club in only 18 minutes of his first start against FK Jablonec in the Czech Republic.
The 27-year-old raider had made a cameo appearance in the Premiership encounter against Hearts at Tynecastle on July 31 – the same day he arrived in Scotland following his £4.6million deal from Vissel Kobe.
KYOGO THE FIRST…the Japanese hitman strokes in his opening goal for Celtic in the 4-2 win over FK Jablonec on August 5 last year. Kyogo Furuhashi (below) celebrates the strike – one down and 19 to go for the remainder of his memorable debut season.
The Hoops lost 2-1 in Edinburgh, but were already leading 1-0 through a Liel Abada goal against the Czechs five days later when Kyogo doubled their advantage with a neat finish.
Ange Postecoglou’s side, with Joe Hart making his debut, eased to a 4-2 first leg win in the Europa League qualifier with further goals from James Forrest and Ryan Christie.
Three days later, Kyogo flashed in a hat-trick during his Celtic Park bow as Dundee were demolished 6-0 in the second league game of the season.
The pacy attacker became an instant favourite with the Hoops support and was given rousing applause throughout.
Something similar against Real Madrid would be music to the popular Celt’s ears.
