The Japan attacker is acing a race to be fit for the big festive showdown with Rangers after getting crocked in VAR flashpoint
The Celtic boss revealed the attacker is facing up to six weeks out with knee ligament damage – suffered in his controversial red card flashpoint against Atletico Madrid in midweek. Rodgers was left livid at the VAR decision to send the Japan star packing , which contributed to the Champions League 6-0 battering from the La Liga men.
“His attitude and mentality is superb. He initials the pressure for us. Anyone who knows football could see it wasn’t a red, it was just a clash of feet. Rodgers won’t allow excuses though and he said: “That is a lot of big players. The team has still produced and obviously when we get those guys back and they are fit and healthy as a squad then great. But in the meantime you have to cope and adapt and that’s what we’ve done.
Rodgers will switch his sights to Aberdeen but he insisted he won’t give up on his Champions league dream for Celtic. He insisted his side are close but more building will be require to attempt to bridge the gap to the continent’s best. Rodgers said: “You need breaks this level and we haven’t quite got them.
“Quality is the name of the game at this level. So for a team like ourselves, it’s so close the level we are playing at. At the very highest level in club football, that level of quality can be the difference between drawing and winning a game or losing a game.
Brendan Rodgers Daizen Maeda Old Firm Knee Ligament Damage Red Card VAR Atletico Madrid Champions League
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