Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers doesn’t think there’s anyone better at pressing in world football than Daizen Maeda.
The Japanese winger was one of several standout players in the Hoops’ 5-1 thumping of Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday evening.
Maeda was a continual thorn in the side of the opposition’s defence. He bagged his side’s fourth of the night with a clinical finish from inside the box, but he could easily have had a few more.
The 26-year-old has reached new heights under Rodgers’ management. Whether he turns out on the left wing or through the middle, Maeda is one of the most critical players to the Scottish Premiership champions’ play style.
He has gone from being somewhat of a cult hero among the supporters to a key player who bags in colossal matches.
As well as being a threat up top, Rodgers has outlined how key Maeda is in the press.
Speaking at Lennoxtown today, the Irishman made a significant claim about the attacker’s ability and desire to win the ball back for his side.
“I would doubt there’s anyone better in world football than Daizen Maeda in that context [pressing],” he said (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard).
“I watched a clip of the game where, and this is toward the end of the game, if you see the clip back in the game, on a certain angle, he’s making a sort of recovery run into the left-back position, tracking their right-back, thinking the ball is going to come across [goal].
“But then the ball goes instead to the centre-half, but he presses it and nicks it, and he’s away.
“Even if you can do that, it’s the will and desire to do it, which most players won’t have. He could have easily dropped that press, he didn’t have to do that one.
“He actually got to the centre-half before the guy that should have got there – it’s incredible! But that’s mentality.”
Maeda has registered six goal contributions in his last five games. The Japan international is key for Rodgers and brings to the table what no other player can.
Although some rotation is expected against Falkirk this weekend, the robust Maeda will likely keep his place as the Hoops look to make it to the semi-finals of the league cup.
