Despite conceding first against Hearts, Celtic scripted another comeback on Wednesday night to clinch a 3-1 win at Parkhead. Daizen Maeda netted the equalizer midway through the first half but was forced to leave the pitch minutes later with a knock. While the club are assessing his injury before Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final, the Japanese ace has pledged his commitment to the Glasgow giants by dismissing the transfer rumours.
“Right now, I’m not thinking about the future at all. I just won one of the domestic cups with Celtic, but I still have another cup and league title left to win this season. That is my only priority.”
The 25-year-old attacker told in an interview back in his homeland (as quoted by the Daily Record).
Maeda spent his youth stint at Yamanashi Gakuin University High School before joining Matsumoto Yamaga in the J2 League. He also tried his luck in Europe, but his loan spell with Marítimo in Portugal did not work out. The versatile striking sensation returned to the Far East and completed a season-long loan to Yokohama F. Marinos in the top tier of Japanese football. There he flourished under Ange Postecoglou, then Marinos chief, who eventually brought him to Celtic last winter. Maeda finished the 2021 J1 League campaign as the top Scorer (23 goals) jointly with Leandro Damiao of Kawasaki Frontale.
Why Maeda Is Irreplaceable In Celtic Attack
In spite of his poaching traits and scoring expertise, the Aussie boss has deployed him as a wide attacker. His flexibility across the frontline has helped the Bhoys, particularly with Kyogo Furuhashi spearheading the attack. Although he has netted 10 times and laid on 6 more in 38 appearances across competitions [stats via Transfermarket], his high work ethic and intelligence saw him attuning to Postecoglou’s free-flowing and swift passing football.
Celtic have ample wingers in their ranks with Filipe Jota, Sead Haksabanovic, James Forrest and Liel Abada also challenging for a starting status. While they have been rotated extensively over the past few months, Maeda has cemented his spot to some extent down the left-hand flank.
He offers way more than goals and assists in the attacking third, and the same got recognized by the Samurai Blues boss Hajime Moriyasu in Qatar. Maeda not only made the World Cup squad ahead of the other Hoops stars Furuhashi, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate but also scored a goal against Croatia in their Round of 16 contest.
