Kyogo was surely left gutted when informed he did not make the cut for Japan’s final 2023 AFC Asian Cup squad.
The competition in Qatar will begin in January and extend through February 10 for the championship. Five Celtic players—Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, Oh, Yang, and Marco Tilio—will compete in the tournament.
Kyogo will be happy to remain in Glasgow, where he will be able to play when the Scottish football season resumes after the winter break, which will please both Brendan Rodgers and Celtic supporters.
Additionally, Kyogo will be less likely to sustain an injury over the coming weeks than Hatate and Maeda. However, the Japanese forward lost out on the opportunity to play for his nation in a significant competition, which is never easy for a player to live with.
Kyogo was omitted from the 2022 World Cup Japan squad and while he picked up a few caps recently, his last coming in November against Myanmar, Samurai Blue manager Hajime Moriyasu has decided against bolstering his attacking options for the Asian Cup with the Hoops favourite.
But why exactly? Well, Moriyasu has now publicly explained the decision.
Mark Walker, a freelance journalist, has gathered remarks from Moriyasu following his observation of his Japan team crushing Jordan 6-1 in a friendly match prior to their Asian Cup campaign opener on Sunday against Vietnam.
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