Brendan Rodgers has weighed in on the progress of winger Yang, acknowledging the player’s struggles with limited game time and his relatively muted attacking contributions. Online, two camps have emerged, some who believe he’s not shown enough and can’t see a future at Celtic for the winger, while others are hoping his little flashes of skill and moments turn into better output.
While some Celtic supporters remain optimistic about the 21-year-old’s potential, Rodgers’ assessment painted a more measured picture, focused on the winger’s work ethic rather than any immediate attacking prowess.
Balancing Effort with End Product
Speaking about the South Korean’s current role, Rodgers explained: “Yeah, I think it is a challenge for Yang in terms of the guys in front of him been doing so well, so he’s had limited game time. What we see in him every day is that he works so hard at his game, and sometimes, especially when you’re an attacking player and you don’t play so much, there’s always a chance that you come in and try to force things.”
When speaking ahead of the Dundee game, the Celtic boss was keen to highlight that while Yang’s effort cannot be questioned, there is a need for greater efficiency in the final third. “For me, he gives his all.” he told Celtic’s Youtube Channel. “He gives everything. Yes, he needs to be more efficient. Attacking players have to be able to create goals and score goals as well as do that pressing function that we want.”
Yang’s Flashes of Promise
Despite the need for improvement, Rodgers acknowledged some promising signs from Yang’s recent performance, referencing his impact in the weekend match: “He was unlucky, had a great bit of skill that nearly made him a goal. The keeper makes a really good save. He makes a great run—you see his desire to get into the position that leads to the penalty.”
These moments of intent may offer some encouragement to both the player and the fans, though Rodgers’ comments underline that Yang’s path to regular first-team football hinges on his ability to deliver in key moments. Trying hard, while admirable, isn’t enough on its own.
A Long Road Ahead at Celtic
Rodgers’ focus on Yang’s work rate and willingness to adapt suggests a manager aware of the player’s limitations but also mindful of his potential to develop.
Asked if he could be developed, Rodgers said: “Well, that’s just time and patience, and to get anywhere as a player, that mentality also. So, listen, we will always work and give our best to help the players. It’s just about their talent and how that accelerates going forward.
“But he’s a young guy who’s adapted so well to coming over from Korea, and he’s speaking English now, translating with the players. It’s a huge testament to him—he’s a really, really good kid. And as I said, at this moment in time, when players are out, he’s coming in and working very hard.”
For Yang, the challenge remains to translate his training ground commitment into decisive attacking output on matchday.
