Brendan Rodgers comments on emerging Celtic duo bode very well

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers highlighted Luis Palma and Hyunjun Yang for praise after their performances in Celtic’s 6-0 destruction of Aberdeen.

Yang and Palma, who joined Celtic in the summer, were both able to get on the scoresheet yesterday in a sensational performance from the Hoops, with Palma also registering a hat-trick of assists.

Yang headed the Bhoys ahead just nine minutes into the game, connecting with a wonderful cross from Palma to score his first goal for Celtic.

Palma netted Celtic’s third from the penalty spot, a moment that showcased not only Palma’s set-piece skills but also his self-belief.

Palma’s assist for Oh in the 96th minute was an unbelievable display of skill, with an outside-of-the-boot cross reminiscent of Lubo Moravcik’s assist for Henrik Larsson against Dundee back in 1998. 

Yesterday was a big day for both young players. Instead of playing it safe by starting the experienced James Forrest, Rodgers took a risk, and this paid off with Yang repaying his faith just nine minutes in. Yang is a promising winger, blessed with skill and trickery to beat his man. The aspect he showcased yesterday that he hadn’t so far was his goal-scoring ability, especially with a header.

Palma has already shown he can score goals this season, but yesterday he took his game to a whole new level. He wasn’t predictable in his movements. He was putting crosses into the box, linking up well with teammates, and retaining possession.

Questions were raised about Palma as a ready-made replacement for Jota, but he has gradually become one of the first names on the team sheet.

Brendan Rodgers highlights Hyunjun Yang and Luis Palma

Rodgers said: [BBC Sportsound], “I’ve always said you want to impose your way straight from the off, we were able to suffocate the game and play a lot of the game in their third of the pitch.

“When you play against a back five you need to have that width. Midfield players can occupy the spaces inside and it’s important. The wingers are growing, Luis Palma has added variety to his game which is important. I think when he first came he always came inside but now he can go outside and if he has space he can cross it, he doesn’t have to beat the man.

“Yang as a young player I was really pleased with him today. When he first came he either beat his man or lost the ball but you see the development in him, taking players with him, he’s a good size, he’s quick and has good ability. Now he’s arriving into areas we want and that’s where he got his goal.”

Rodgers deserves all the credit for starting Palma and Yang yesterday. While some managers might have left Yang out of the side, Rodgers demonstrated that he is a class above most in the way he coaches young players, helping them play and improve their game.

Rodgers’ analysis of Palma and Yang shows where he is looking to improve them both as players. He’s working on Palma’s variation in his game by encouraging him to go down the wing and put crosses into the box. Yang’s goal, an example of this from Palma’s cross, and with Yang getting goals in the box by moving inside at times and being more simplistic in his possession instead of taking unnecessary risks that could lose Celtic possession.

Celtic will have to rely on Yang and Palma in the next couple of months, and yesterday they showed that they are both capable of living up to the standards required of a Celtic winger, in domestic action at least.