Daizen Maeda’s stats point to significant improvement under Brendan Rodgers

The Celtic Star

·12 février 2025

Daizen Maeda’s stats point to significant improvement under Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has spoken about the significance of Daizen Maeda to his Celtic side ahead of the UEFA Champions League Playoff first leg against Bayern Munich…

Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring the third goal with teammate Jota during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on February 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Celtic manager praised the quality from the attacker, who has become more prolific under his management.

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Celtic confirmed that Daizen Maeda will be available to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening in a major boost earlier this week. The Scottish Champions had been preparing to be without the Japanese attacker after he received a two match ban for his late red card against BSC Young Boys. However, on Monday, the club confirmed they had successfully appealed the length of the suspension and that he would be available to play the Bavarian side.

Referee Rohit Saggi shows a red card to Daizen Maeda during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers spoke about Daizen Maeda at yesterday’s media conference attended by The Celtic Star

Speaking at Tuesday’s media conference, Brendan spoke highly of Maeda and how he has improved during the Irishman’s second spell at the club.

“It’s such a great bit of news that we got last night. He’s an extraordinary player. I think how he’s been this year for us, not just with goals but what his value gives to the team in terms of his pressing and his honesty to the game. So, to have that mentality and that ability available was a big surprise, but a nice surprise.

“He’s a good person and as a guy he’s super professional. He comes in every day, does his work, does all the right things to prepare himself to be a top professional. He trains as he plays, so he’s very intense and he gives everything in his training. He then takes that personality on to the field.

Daizen Maeda controls the ball whilst under pressure from Ethan Ingram during the match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on February 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“So, he’s been an absolute joy to work with. Just seeing him develop and grow over the course of the season. I think his ability in his finishing, but add to that the work rate and the intensity, he’s been a really pivotal player for us.”

Daizen is a prolific scorer under Rodgers

Rodgers then turned onto the change from Daizen Maeda this season, which has seen him become more prolific in terms of goals scored for the club.

“I think the player is maturing. He’s obviously improved as a player with experiences and with comfort in how we work and how we play.

Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal during the match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on February 05, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“He now arrives with confidence to score and a better technique with his finishing. It’s top level”

“But I can go back and I think he scored goals before he came into Celtic. Obviously Ange [Postecoglou] brings him in having worked with him in Japan so he knows his qualities, he knows everything in his game, and as I said he was a goalscorer over there. He’s come to here, it may have taken a little time to get used to the Scottish game, the British game. But what you see now is he’s right in the flow. He understands the physicality of the game in these parts of the world and the physicality required at the highest level of European football.

“He’s well suited to that and now he’s getting consistently into positions. I think what you have with him, his conversion rate is something that’s improved. I think he’s someone who has always had chances, he’s been there. But he now arrives with confidence to score and a better technique with his finishing. It’s top level.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

‘The coaches do a brilliant job with him’

“The coaches do a brilliant job with him in terms of the work and I try to inspire him and manage him, point out little things in his game. But he himself is a learner and he’s learned very well.”

Having Daizen Maeda available tonight is a huge boost for Celtic due to the qualities that he has exhibited in recent weeks, especially in Europe. Bayern Munich will be a huge test but Celtic are in a better position with Daizen available.

The match is significant in terms of what it means for Celtic’s European aspirations but it also represents Maeda’s 71st game under Brendan Rodgers. That figure is relevant as it was the same amount of games that Maeda played under Ange Postecoglou before he departed for Spurs.

Daizen Maeda with the Premier Sports Cup after Celtic’s victory over theRangers on 15 December 2024 at Hampden Park. Photo Kenny Ramsay

Maeda cost Celtic just £1.2m from Yokohama F Marinos

Signed from Yokohama F Marinos on a loan to buy deal (just £1.2m) in 2022, Maeda was expected to play as a central striker but quickly it was established that he would be used as a left sided attacker. Under Ange at Celtic, Maeda scored 19 goals and assisted on 12 occasions in all competitions.

Daizen Maeda, meanwhile, has 12 assists and 31 goals under Brendan in almost the same timeframe, emphasising that he has become more clinical in front of goal under the Irishman’s guidance.

Hopefully Daizen can mark his 71st game for Celtic with a goal or two against Bayern Munich tonight.