Martin O’Neill praised Yang Hyun-Jun after Celtic’s 3–1 win over Motherwell at Celtic Park, while also pointing to Daizen Maeda’s relentless work as a key part of the victory.
The afternoon had not started comfortably for the home side. Motherwell took the lead midway through the first half after Celtic lost possession near their own penalty area. Elijah Just finished the move and for a short spell the visitors looked settled.
Celtic responded before the break. Kieran Tierney drove forward on the left and the move stayed alive when Benjamin Nygren pressed to win the ball back high up the pitch. Yang reacted quickest inside the box and fired the equaliser into the corner.
From that moment Celtic played with more urgency. The pressing became sharper and Motherwell began to struggle when trying to build from the back. The pressure carried into the second half.
The turning point came when Maeda chased a loose ball inside the area and forced a desperate challenge. The referee pointed to the spot and Tomáš Cvancara stepped forward to score the penalty that put Celtic ahead.
Yang later sealed the win with a second goal. The winger broke in behind the defence and struck high into the net to make the result safe.
After the match, O’Neill highlighted the performance of the South Korean winger. He also made sure to mention Maeda’s role in the game.
He said: (BBC Sport), “He was sensational. Sensational in every aspect of the game.
“Going forward, obviously the goals he scored, the energy he showed, and the willingness to work back.
“It was a monumental performance by him. And not far behind him was Daizen, who I thought was really, really great.
“Those two lads epitomise the spirit of the team because they give absolutely everything.
“And Yang, quite rightly, is on a bit of a high in the dressing room. He was wonderful.”
Yang’s two goals told part of the story. His movement caused problems all afternoon, especially when Celtic attacked from wide areas. Each time the ball came into the box he arrived quickly and forced defenders to react.
Maeda’s influence came in a different way. His pressing meant Motherwell rarely settled when playing out from the back. The penalty arrived from exactly that kind of pressure.
Celtic needed that response after falling behind. Instead of slowing down, the team pushed forward and forced mistakes higher up the pitch.
With games still to come in the title run-in, the energy shown by Yang and Maeda will remain central to how O’Neill’s side approach the final stretch of the season.
yes we need to keep this momentum up i thought arthor had a good game in centre of defence but we have to keep playing from back it tire oppistions legs you seen that today 55minutes Motherwell players going down to stop play 70 minutes some were out on there feet Teams like Celtic in europe and cups sat wed sun thurs for most weeks then internationals so it makes it more great that our players do it well done lads your fighting spirit is remarkable yet hardly do our clun make it as an excuse hail hail