Kyogo’s exclusion from the Japan squad is “unfair” because he’s performing at a higher level than Celtic teammate Daizen Maeda and that the coach must be watching edited videos of the Hoops games.
That’s according to former Samurai Blue star Marcus Tanaka, who’s taken Hajime Moriyasu to task for leaving out the Scottish Premiership’s top scorer. The Japanese face Uruguay on March 24 before hosting Colombia four days later but Kyogo, along with Parkhead pal Reo Hatate, has been left out of the squad, just as the pair were for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year.
And Tanaka, who played at the 2010 World Cup for his country, has accused the boss of playing favourites and overlooking players who should be getting called up. Hajime claims to be watching Kyogo regularly, but Tanaka can’t understand why he won’t pick him if that’s the case, especially when Maeda makes the cut.
“It’s unfair,” he said. “Kyogo is producing results and has to be chosen. Daizen Maeda does his best, but Kyogo is on a higher level.
“The Japan coach said that he watches all Celtic’s games. Was the video cut for Kyogo? It’s a contradiction. He is watching him, but he didn't choose him. What does it mean when he does not pick the most active player at Celtic?
“Takuma Asano is in the squad and he can’t compare to him. The Japan coach definitely has his favourite players — his likes and his dislikes. There are levels as players and, above all, it’s about ability.
“It is the manager’s job to select players of high ability and make them play an active role.”
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