Chris Sutton: Celtic player makes it his mission to 'damage' Rangers

Chris Sutton expects Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi to cause “damage” to Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final.

The Gers will head into the cup final clash on Sunday [15 December] as heavy underdogs to lift the trophy, but still, they will be brimming with confidence after battling to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Tottenham in the Europa League on Thursday 12 December.

However, the pundit details in his Daily Record column [13 December] how Kyogo makes it his mission to “damage” the Gers whenever the two sides in Glasgow face off.

Writing: “Kyogo Furuhashi was fabulous and then frustrated [against Hibernian and Dinamo Zagreb]. But, when it comes to facing Rangers, the Celtic striker is normally fantastic.

“And there’s no reason to think the lethal Japanese striker won’t extend his marvellous Old Firm record when he gets back to Hampden. Big players deliver in big games.

“When it comes to Scotland, there is no bigger fixture and there has been no bigger man in the contests recently than the striker. Kyogo’s recent run against Rangers has been terrific and, if Celtic are going to win the Premier Sports Cup Cup on Sunday, there’s every reason to think he’ll be central to the success.

“Kyogo has made it his business to damage Rangers time and again over the past couple of years and he also has that happy knack of being able to do it at the National Stadium in the major finals and semi-finals.

“Fair enough, it needed Adam Idah to come off the bench and win the Scottish Cup Final for Brendan Rodgers’ team in May.

“But Kyogo was right back into the Old Firm groove when the teams met again for the first time this season with his excellent finish as Celtic cantered to a 3-0 success. It was one of the performances of this season which has really caught the eye.”

Rangers need to nullify Kyogo threat v Celtic

Although the Gers faithful will still be reeling from the dominant performance against Tottenham on Thursday, the celebrations will need to be put on hold ahead of another Old Firm cup final.

The 3-0 loss against the Hoops at Parkhead in August was the beginning of an unstoppable spiral at Ibrox, which now leaves Rangers 11 points adrift of their Glaswegian rivals in the Scottish Premiership.

Furthermore, Kyogo scored on that occasion and Rangers will likely be without star defender John Souttar for the cup final after the 28-year-old was removed after 35 minutes on Thursday after sustaining a fresh injury.

Despite the mixed fortunes heading into the contest, Cetlic always finds a way to get the better of Rangers and will undoubtedly be out for blood at Hampden Park.

However, Philippe Clement has the bragging rights after piling further pressure on Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou on Thursday, and the momentum gained from the result could turn the tide in the Gers’ favour.

As always in Old Firm contests, the result can go either way, and while history is against Rangers, the blue side of Glasgow will be well up for this final and the opportunity to have the last laugh over Celtic.

In other Rangers news, the Light Blues’ transfer plans have been shared in the latest Nathan Patterson to Ibrox update.

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