Ange Postecoglou believes Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate will battle back and fulfil their World Cup dreams after having their Qatar hopes shattered.
Japanese ace Daizen Maeda made the 26-man cut for this year's Finals, but his devastated Celtic colleagues were not selected by national coach Hajime Moriyasu. Postecoglou doesn't hide the fact it'll be a huge disappointment for both Kyogo and Hatate. But, at the ages of 27 and 24 respectively, the Parkhead gaffer is convinced they can one day still make it to the game’s biggest showpiece.
Ahead of the Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Postecoglou said: “Nothing is going to stop Reo from being the best footballer he can be. Kyogo, his nature never changes, he is always smiling, always happy. He loves what he does and that won’t change, but it is good motivation for them. They both have a World Cup in them if they miss out on this one. The World Cup, and I was fortunate to be a manager at one, is one of those tournaments which is a dream to get to.
"They both would have been very close to getting there, particularly Kyogo. I am disappointed for them because Reo probably has one or two cycles of World Cups to potentially go to.
“Kyogo, at his age, still has one in him. But you want to take these opportunities. I’m disappointed for them, but both of them are really strong characters. Of course they will be disappointed. My experience is they will have probably got wind of it a few days ago. It is rarely a shock.
“Usually somebody within the organisation would have notified them. They are both strong, determined characters. It will motivate them to ensure they play their football to the best of their ability and those opportunities will come again.”
Both could still be on Moriyasu’s reserve list in case of his injuries to his original selection and Postecoglou added: “There is always that they can change it. Kyogo is probably on that list. Whether they call him up, you don’t know.”
Postecoglou doesn’t buy any notion the omissions offer any help to Celtic as he continued: “I don’t see it that way. Going to a World Cup is an unbelievable experience. I was fortunate enough to have that. And you come back, feeling better about yourself. It would have been great for them to be there.
“It is great that Diazen’s there. He’ll come back much more confident, not that he isn’t confident. It’s like the Champions League. You play at a World Cup and you just feel the growth, feel different about yourself because you have experienced football the very best.”
Postecoglou could have another Japanese in his ranks soon with Vissel Kobe defender Yuki Kobayashi on the January target list. Sources in the 22-year-old’s homeland say a deal is close, but the Celtic boss is staying tight-lipped on the situation.
Postecoglou said: “We have gone early on the January market haven’t we? It’s just into November. We have a strategy in terms of making sure we are always looking to improve our squad and improve the way we do things. Every window gives you that opportunity. We’ve had some plans in place for January for a while now. Hopefully over the next few weeks we will be able to conclude some of that.”
Postecoglou, meanwhile, also kept coy on contract talk surrounding proposed new extensions for Liel Abada and Giorgos Giakoumakis.
He said: “The club always does the right thing with players and they’ll get looked after. In terms of individuals, I’m not going to talk about their situations. They get their rewards with their performances. Those kinds of things, as I keep saying, they take care of themselves. They don’t need to worry about that side of it.
“This football club looks after players. It has historically. Not just in terms of contracts but in providing a platform. There are many football clubs you can play for and earn a lot more money, but you won't be playing at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.”
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