It has been some time since Celtic last graced the Premiership stage.
With the Scottish Cup and Champions League fixtures dominating recent weeks, Brendan Rodgers shifted focus back to league duties, securing a victory at Fir Park on Sunday.
Celtic triumphed over Motherwell with a 3-1 scoreline, thanks to Daizen Maeda’s early strike within the first minute, Adam Idah extending his goal tally from Villa Park, and Jota marking his return with a goal.
This result extends the champions’ lead to ten points at the top of the table – with a game in hand – as they edge closer to another title in commanding fashion.
Unsurprisingly, much of the pre- and post-match attention centered on Jota, particularly after he made a dream second debut.
However, another player returning to the starting XI after a recent suspension also earned praise, as Daizen Maeda continues to shine in Celtic colors.
Aiden McGeady and Kris Boyd commend Daizen Maeda following Celtic’s victory over Motherwell:
It’s disappointing that Maeda will miss the first leg against Bayern Munich due to suspension, as his contributions, both on and off the ball, will be sorely missed.
Aiden McGeady highlighted Maeda’s ‘fantastic’ header against Motherwell and noted how challenging it will be to displace him from the team, even with Jota back in the fold.
Kris Boyd echoed this sentiment, praising the Japanese star’s sharpness and unpredictability, remarking that defenders ‘never know where he is,’ as he shared on Sky Sports Football (02/02/25 at 3:55 pm).
“Fantastic goal,” McGeady said of Maeda’s opener.
“I do think Motherwell struggled in the first 25 minutes with their low back five, particularly Kaleta, who failed to engage Maeda.
“But it’s a brilliant run by Maeda, and he does what any good striker or wide player does. He capitalized on the second opportunity with a great finish.”
Boyd added: “Looking back at Maeda’s goal, his pace from a standing start is remarkable. He can get away from defenders in an instant.
“Even just a yard or two of movement can unsettle defenders. They never know where he is. Yes, Kaleta could have done better, but when you’re constantly scanning for Maeda, it’s tough to keep track of him. It was a fantastic goal.”
McGeady continued: “With Jota returning, there’s added pressure, but it will be difficult to leave Maeda out of the team, to say the least.”
Maeda’s season in numbers for Celtic
There’s something about wide players thriving under Rodgers’ management.
From James Forrest and Scott Sinclair during Rodgers’ first stint to Nicolas Kuhn’s transformation this season, Maeda is no exception.
While Maeda has always been a standout for Celtic, he is currently playing his best football, adding a crucial end product to his game.
| Tournament | Apps | Goals | Assists | MotM | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiership | 18(3) | 6 | 7 | 1 | 7.01 |
| Champions League | 7 | 3 | – | – | 6.51 |
| League Cup | 3 | 6 | – | – | – |
| Total / Average | 31 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 6.89 |
