CELTIC fans thoroughly enjoyed the updated version of Celtic’s Three Amigos of another era as the entertaining trio of Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi and Filipe Jota waltzed through their extensive repertoire in a thoroughly enjoyable campaign.
Their breathtaking qualities took some of the supporters back to the nineties when the Hoops had Pierre van Hooijdonk, Jorge Cadete and Paolo di Canio strutting their stuff in the east end of Glasgow as they clicked in spectacular fashion.
Famously, owner Fergus McCann branded the treble-act ‘The Three Amigos’ as they took centre stage in one of Tommy Burns’ entertaining, attacking outfits. Unfortunately, the Dutchman, Portuguese and Italian didn’t hang around too long as they sought new pastures.
NET PROFITS…Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates the opener against Aberdeen with Liel Abada and Filipe Jota in the 2-1 win in October last year.
Hoops supporters will be hoping they get to witness the flashing skills of Israeli Abada, Japanese Kyogo and Portuguese Jota a little longer in the green and white following the initial success with the tenth title in 11 years being won in a phenomenal debut campaign for Ange Postecoglou, the man responsible for bringing the the gifted threesome together.
Legendary marksman John ‘Yogi’ Hughes, the club’s seventh-highest scorer with 189 strikes, admitted he was an admirer in a CQN feature before the turn of the year and today he sees no reason to change his mind about his original thoughts on the enterprising trio.
In another CQN EXCLUSIVE, the former Hoops fans’ favourite observed: “I said back then that these players were made to play for Celtic. They fitted right in with the manager’s plans and it is clear he knows what my old club are all about.
JOY BHOY…Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates his first of a double in the 6-0 win over Motherwell on Flag Day.
“I’ve said it often enough that I was fortunate enough to play in Jock Stein’s teams that possessed the likes of the incomparable Jimmy Johnstone, easily one of the greatest wingers in the world in his heyday.
“Jinky was part of an attack that comprised Bobby Lennox, Joe McBride, Willie Wallace and Stevie Chalmers. I would like to think I played a part, too.
“It was a line-up that chased goals for the entire 90 minutes. If we were one goal ahead, we wanted a second. If we got that, we went for a third. And so on. I can see something similar evolving with Big Ange’s team. The man is committed to attack and he demands his teams go forward from start to finish.
“That’ll do for me! I’m a Celtic fan and if I am not in the ground on match day, there will be a very good reason for it.
YOU’RE IN MY HEART…Liel Abada celebrates another goal with the Celtic fans.
“We know there is more to come. It’s only natural players will gel the longer they play alongside each other. You pick up little hints about how you team-mate likes to play and how he prefers passes to drop to him. Some like it to feet, some like it in front of them, some like to go back and retrieve it.
“You can work on these things all you like in training, but there is no substitute for doing out on the field when some defenders go about their business with a wee bit too much relish and ball players do not get too much protection from match officials.
“Kyogo finished the season with 20 goals and goodness only knows how many he would have collected if he hadn’t missed three months at the turn of the year with his hamstring problem.
“Abada hit the ground running with a debut goal in the 1-1 draw with FC Midtjylland in the Champions League qualifier and got into double figures with 15 strikes which is simply awesome, even more so when you consider the amount of assists.
JUST CHAMPION…Filipe Jota, watched by Liel Abada, carries the Premiership trophy following the six-goal rout of Motherwell in which he scored his sixteenth goal of the season.
“Jota adds goals, too, as well as a touch of flamboyance. It’s little wonder the fans have taken to him. He may indulge in an extra stepover or two, but he is ruthless with his finishing.
“You don’t score 16 goals from the flank without that quality. He scores a variety of goals, too.
“Look at the whiplash low drive against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. That was a touch of class. But he will get in there among the flying feet as he proved in Dingwall last month.
It wasn’t an eye-catching effort as he muscled in front of a Ross County defender to knock a ricochet from a Giorgos Giakoumakis shot in from close range.
“Jota, Kyogo and Abada have all made massive contributions to Celtic
“Long may it continue. I hope to witness a lot of The Three Amigos Mark Two in many seasons to come.”
