Daizen Maeda proves Rodgers claim about Celtic wrong in the best way as he reveals 'goosebumps' have never gone away
Brendan Rodgers often insists his players are not robots but Daizen Maeda does a pretty decent job at suggesting otherwise.
The wide man’s superhuman work rate has some punters wondering if it’s not just his phone he charges when he goes to bed at night. Maeda will need his energy levels to be at 100 per cent again this week for the crucial Champions League clash against Young Boys. But he’s revealed that’s when he plugs into the Parkhead power source.
When the Japanese ace landed in Scotland he admitted he didn’t watch European football’s main event in his homeland. Now he’s hooked on the Champions League. Maeda busts a gut every week for Celts but there’s something about an amped-up Celtic Park that turns everything up to the max and he’s determined to feed off it again as his side look to burst into the knockout stages.
He said: “You will never be able to play in a better atmosphere than here in the Champions League. I still get goosebumps when we are at home in this competition. It is very special. It’s an honour to play in such an atmosphere and it’s up to us to make sure the fans are happy. These nights do feel different. You can feel the energy coming from the supporters.”
Maeda doesn’t just get his power from the punters – he can feel the love too. The winger has become a real cult hero with his relentless running and habit of producing huge moments. The 27-year-old was at it again at the weekend with the winning goal as Celtic saw off Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup to make it 15 goals for the season. Supporters can see his importance to his side – and they lap up his down-to-earth, family-man approach to life.
Maeda is often seen on the Parkhead pitch after matches, still running around, kicking a ball with his two young kids. He’ll need that energy with No.3 on the way, but this is a humble hero that’s claimed a place in the supporters’ hearts.
Maeda won’t take it – or rest on his laurels. He said: “It is very nice to have that appreciation. Well, I’m just doing what I have been doing for my entire career. Right now, the goals and assists are coming for me, so I’ll try to keep doing what I have been doing. I feel over my career I have managed to improve step by step and I will keep working hard to get better.”
Maeda missed a couple of games after a slight knock but he’s blasted five goals in his last eight matches and is enjoying his most prolific campaign at Parkhead. Maeda said: “There is no big secret to the goalscoring form. I’ve been working hard and things have been coming together for me, in terms of goals and assists.
“I am happy the goals have been coming. I have managed to score some goals this season but I don’t really set myself targets. I just want to contribute to the team and help us win games – like the one on Saturday.
“It was a tough game and I was able to score and help the team. That is what matters to me. I do set myself high standards. For example, looking at the chance in the first half against Kilmarnock, I should have scored, but I didn’t.
“That made the game more difficult. We could have been four or five up at one point but thankfully I managed to get the goal in the end.”
It was a strike that keeps Celtic on track for a Treble – but it’s Europe in focus now. The Hoops will need to raise their levels to get the win they need against Young Boys to progress from the Champions League group stages. But they also need to raise the energy levels after a gruelling run of nine games in 27 days.
In contract, the Swiss outfit only came out of their month-long winter break on Saturday and will be far fresher. Maeda sees it a different way though. He said: “It’s been quite tough for us with the amount of game we have had in the last few weeks, It has been a very busy schedule. But I look at them. It can be difficult to play a match at this level having played just one competitive match in a month.
“I think it will be difficult for both sides, for different reasons. But I know we will be ready to get the result we want.”
Hoops skipper Callum McGregor – who notched the opener in Saturday’s win with his seventh goal of the season – is also convinced his side have the chops to charge on in the Champions League. But the Parkhead men will need to be more ruthless in front of goal than they were against Killie.
McGregor said: “I couldn’t believe it was only 2-1. We have a wee bit of work to do on the finishing, but the guys have been superb all season. It was good preparation. It was a physical game, so that’s good as it gets us to the level for Wednesday night and we’ve got to come here with big energy, and play with big quality to try and get the win.”
