After arriving at Celtic at the turn of the year, Daizen Maeda has been a revelation and become an integral part of Ange Postecoglou’s squad.
The winger had previously worked under the gaffer at Yokohama Marinos and from the offset, you could see that he was everything that Postecoglou likes in a player.
Maeda had very little time to settle into life in Glasgow, but with a full pre-season under his belt, it will be fascinating to see how the players returns for the new season.
With the World Cup in Qatar firmly in his sights, the winger has spoken to a Japanese news outlet about his targets and goals for the season ahead.
“If you run as hard as you can in different places, eventually a lucky ball will come to you. That’s what I think,” said Daizen Maeda speaking to [Sports Graphic Number One].
“I want to continue with this attitude. In my mind, goals are scored when I can get them, and when I can’t, I can’t. That’s how I see it.
“There is an element of luck involved in scoring goals, so it is important to fight for the team even when you can’t score.”
We’ve become used to this aggressive attacking threat which the winger has already displayed in 21 appearances for the Hoops scoring 7 goals along with 5 assists – playing a major part in getting the league title over the line.
“In Scotland, we have a culture that loves players who run and fight hard. I think people like a fast athlete wherever they go. I need to keep bringing that speed to the table. I want to make it more than it is now. I want to show my overwhelming speed. I don’t think I have shown it yet.”
Many Celtic fans will be thrilled to hear this as Maeda has already blown us away with the way he hunts down the ball at times and continues to keep going until the last kick off the ball.
Celtic as a club have a rich history of players who excite fans and get bums off seats as the late Bertie Auld used to say, “Entertain!”
There’s no doubt Maeda is an entertainer and we all look forward to seeing him back in green and white hoops very soon.
