Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed Daizen Maeda as one of the best players in world football when it comes to pressing the opposition.
The Japanese forward was instrumental in Celtic’s 5-1 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava in their opening Champions League group match on Wednesday night, with his relentless work rate standing out in an impressive team performance at Parkhead.
Maeda not only added to the scoreline with Celtic’s fourth goal but also led from the front in chasing down defenders, forcing mistakes, and regaining possession.
It’s this kind of selfless running and tenacity that Rodgers singled out for praise. The 26-year-old has now recorded four goals and two assists in all competitions this season, but it was a moment of sheer determination late in the game that truly caught Rodgers’ eye.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Falkirk, Rodgers said:
“I would doubt there is anyone better in world football than Daizen Maeda in that context.
“I watched an image towards the end of the game and if you see a certain angle of the clip he is making a recovery run into the left-back position tracking their right back and thinking the ball is going to come across.
“But then the ball instead goes to the centre half and he (Maeda) presses it and nicks it and is away. Even if you can do that, it is the will and desire to actually do that.
“Most players won’t have that. He could have easily dropped that press and not do that one. That was the one that was important and he went, realised it wasn’t getting there and actually got to the centre half before the guy who should have got there. It was incredible, unbelievable pressing but that’s mentality.”
Rodgers also highlighted the overall quality of the team’s performance against a Slovan Bratislava side that had already knocked out the champions of Cyprus and Denmark on their way to the group stage.
“No matter what is said, every team that plays in the Champions League is there believing that they are a big team,” Rodgers noted.
“There are obviously clearly some more prestigious clubs than others because of their history, but every club that goes into that competition has done well and is a champion or a very good team in their own right.”
He added: “You know when you’re playing that, you’ve got to perform, so for us to play to that level with that pressure was something that didn’t surprise me, but it was great to see.”
Rodgers’ comments reflect his belief in Maeda’s extraordinary work ethic and his confidence that Celtic can hold their own on Europe’s biggest stage.