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19x possession lost and earning more than Bernardo with such a poor stats, how on earth could such a FLOP earn such huge amount per week?”- Brendan Rodgers has been urged to drop a Celtic player who earns a higher wage than Paulo Bernardo, following a series of underwhelming performances.
Celtic took a significant step toward securing a fourth consecutive league title with a commanding 4-0 win over St Johnstone at Parkhead on Sunday, the final match of 2024. This victory extends their lead at the top to a massive 14 points ahead of second-place Rangers, whom they will face in an Old Firm derby on Thursday.
Brendan Rodgers would have been pleased with his team’s dominant performance, with Celtic registering 30 shots and creating six ‘big chances,’ converting four of them. The defense, reshuffled with Alistair Johnston and Alex Valle coming in, was equally impressive, limiting St Johnstone to just one shot and no ‘big chances,’ allowing goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel a quiet afternoon in goal.
The result not only secured three deserved points but also boosted confidence as Celtic heads into their 2025 opener at Ibrox. One player likely to carry extra confidence into the derby is central midfielder Paulo Bernardo, who delivered an outstanding performance against St Johnstone.
Paulo Bernardo’s Strong Display
Rodgers gave the Portuguese midfielder another opportunity to prove himself after a difficult outing against Motherwell. In that match, Bernardo struggled, losing seven of his eight duels and failing to register a shot or create any ‘big chances.’ However, he bounced back brilliantly against St Johnstone.
Bernardo won three of his six duels, made two tackles and two interceptions, and was not dribbled past once, showing significant improvement in his defensive work. On the ball, he also contributed positively, creating two chances for his teammates and registering three shots on goal. One of his efforts was saved and parried to Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored, while his precise through ball set up Daizen Maeda’s goal.
Hyun-jun Yang’s Struggles
On the other hand, South Korean winger Hyun-jun Yang, who was given another chance after winning a penalty against Motherwell, failed to impress. He was the only player in the starting lineup to finish without either a goal or an assist, with teammates Bernardo, Reo Hatate, and Arne Engels all registering assists, while Kyogo and Nicolas Kuhn found the back of the net.
Yang had no shots on goal, misfired on five of eight dribbles, and lost possession 19 times. His lack of end product has been a recurring issue, and despite reportedly earning a higher wage than Bernardo, he has contributed far less in front of goal. In 33 Premiership appearances, Yang has managed just four direct goal contributions.
At 22, Yang is not beyond redemption, but a loan move could benefit him, allowing him to play regularly and refine his skills before returning to Celtic for the 2025/26 season. A loan spell at another Premiership club or elsewhere in Europe could provide the consistency Yang needs, while freeing up a space in the squad for Celtic to add a new player.
Celtic’s Potential January Move
Rodgers is reportedly interested in signing a left winger in January to strengthen his squad for the second half of the season. This could potentially spell the end for Yang’s time at Celtic, as the club seeks a player who can provide more quality in attack.
One potential target is Sondre Orjasaeter, a 21-year-old forward from Sarpsborg and a Norway U21 international. Orjasaeter could offer more as both a goal scorer and creator, and if he adapts well to Scottish football, he might provide the upgrade Celtic is looking for on the wing. If a new forward is brought in, Yang could be sent out on loan, opening up a space in the squad for the new arrival.
