Barry Ferguson thinks ‘outstanding’ Celtic duo outperformed Nicolas Kuhn v RB Leipzig

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Brendan Rodgers is starting to answer his critics with Celtic in the Champions League.

Celtic outclassed RB Leipzig on Tuesday night and produced one of their best performances in Europe and one of their finest moments under Rodgers’ stewardship.

That’s amazing to think because it wasn’t so long ago that Celtic’s 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund was one of the darkest nights in this club’s history and perhaps the worst performance under Rodgers.

But one thing you can’t argue about is the reaction from the players because it has been top, top class.

The Bhoys have shown two sides to their game in recent Champions League game weeks, starting with that point against Atalanta to the masterclass and controlled performance against Leipzig. 

Nicolas Kuhn was the man of the moment for Celtic against his former club, scoring two goals and proceeding to win the Man of the Match award.

But Barry Ferguson feels two other players stood above him on the night.

Barry Ferguson says Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate the ‘outstanding players’ for Celtic against RB Leipzig

The Bundesliga club, who were seeded in Pot One at the start of the tournament but have now lost all four matches, opened the scoring and put the home side under the cosh.

That’s when Kuhn produced his magic moment, and from there on in, everything changed for the Glasgow giants.

But Barry Ferguson feels the men to control all of that and make Celtic tick on the night were the midfield duo of Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate.

The Japan star scored his side’s third goal and Ferguson told Go Radio that he and his captain were the two ‘outstanding players’ on the night.

“Celtic were highly impressive, there is no doubt about it,” said Ferguson. “I thought the second half, especially. You have to ride your luck at times. You know the opposition you are up against and they are going to dominate spells in the game. 

“But I thought in the second half, especially in the middle of the pitch, with McGregor and Hatate, for me, they were the outstanding players on the night.”

Hatate can ‘play at the highest level’

Celtic have Ange Postecoglou a lot to thank for because several players he brought in are still thriving to this day.

Hatate has been one of Celtic’s best signings of the modern era, but the same could be said for Kyogo Furuhashi, and many others.

This is a golden period for the champions of Scotland and Hatate even has someone like Ferguson purring, especially after his Leipzig showing.

Ferguson expressed how Hatate has the quality to go right to the top and he loves the risks he takes with the ball at his feet, as he added on Go Radio.

“He has shown that he can play at that level,” said Ferguson. “When I watch Hatate, a lot of midfielders will keep it simple and play the safe pass. Sometimes the way that he plays, he tries to always play that cutting pass, some of them get cut out and people might think ‘oh, he’s giving the ball away’.

“But when he is on his game, which he was against Leipzig and some of his passing, his aggression and ability to get about the pitch, he is a player I have always said on this show, he is someone who can play at the highest level. There is no doubt about that.”