Not long ago, Yang was reportedly close to leaving, with [Birmingham City] linked late in the window. That move did not materialise, and his response seems to have been the one Celtic wanted most: impact on the pitch.
That matters at a club where wide players are expected to produce, not just promise. Celtic’s best teams have always relied on directness, bravery and end product out wide. Yang increasingly looks built for that demand.
Martin O’Neill’s praise gets to the heart of the turnaround. “Havia algo nele no treino. Ele consegue passar pelos jogadores, consegue lidar com a bola. Talvez precisasse de um ganho de confiança, mais do que qualquer outra coisa, mas foi muito bem.”
That sounds familiar in football: talent first, conviction second. Once Yang started trusting himself in big moments, the picture seems to have changed. O’Neill also added: “A razão pela qual ele foi bem é que marcou gols grandes para nós em momentos grandes, e ele também é corajoso.”
Yang’s second message is just as important as the contract itself: “Também quero mostrar atuações melhores nos jogos europeus.” That is the next test. Domestic promise earns applause at Celtic; European influence earns status.
If this reported renewal is the marker it looks like, the next storyline is obvious: whether Yang can carry this surge into a new campaign, sharper Champions League nights and the growing pressure that comes with being trusted for the long term.