Alongside Kyogo: £23k-p/w Celtic ace who was "running the show" just had "some game" - opinion

The Celtic revolution under Ange Postecoglou only continues to motor on, full of steam with a seemingly never-ending supply of fuel.

Since the Australian took the reins at Parkhead, the Hoops have gone from strength to strength, bouncing back from a rocky and final term under Neil Lennon in 2020/21 to win the Premiership a season later before putting themselves in the driving seat for back-to-back titles in 2022/23.

It would be a fine reward for the incredible work Postecoglou has done in Glasgow and their Viaplay Cup final victory on Sunday was just another reminder.

In truth, it was another fairly straightforward Old Firm victory for the Bhoys who went 2-0 up thanks to strikes from the returning Kyogo Furuhashi.

Alfredo Morelos set up a potentially nervy final quarter with just his third goal in this fixture but it was ultimately too little too late.

It was just typical that it was Kyogo who came up with the goods. He was the first Japanese signing the manager made and since then, several have entered Paradise to varying levels of success.

But their centre-forward has always been the beating heart and energetic smiling force of this team. There is rarely ever an occasion where he isn’t sporting a colossal grin and after his brace on Sunday, he will likely now have one of the most beaming looks since his emergence in Scotland.

Yet, he will have another of Postecoglou’s old chums to thank for the third trophy of the current regime; Aaron Mooy.

How did Aaron Mooy play in the League Cup final?

The Aussie has “silenced” the critics – as per Charlie Nicholas – in quite some fashion this term.

At the beginning of his stint in Scotland, he was a slow figure who struggled to keep up with the pace of a frantic Celtic side.

An outfit that prioritises a relentless press and break-neck offensive play, it has taken him several months to get to grips with things.

Yet, since the break for the World Cup, he has played like a man-possessed, registering seven goal involvements to take his tally to six goals and seven assists in all competitions.

The £23k-per-week earner didn’t add to that total at Hampden Park on Sunday but his influence was still felt, finding himself involved in both goals.

It was the Australian’s pass that fed Greg Taylor to cross for Kyogo to fire home the opener and then it was Mooy again who was supplying the pre-assist for the second.

Indeed, the former Huddersfield Town man was “having some game” in the middle of the park – as eluded to by Australian journalist Adam Peacock.

This time the 32-year-old slid an inch-perfect ball in behind the Rangers defender that Reo Hatate got on the end of before sweeping a pass across to Kyogo once again.

It was a fine display from the Sydney-born ace who was simply “running the show” in the words of reporter Thomas Wynne Lewis.

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