Celtic’s Daizen Maeda has been named star man in the cinch SPFL’s Team of the Week. The Japanese international scored inside of all but 21 seconds at Ibrox stadium this past weekend in a goal that absolutely shook the core of the home side so early into the match.
It laid the foundations for us to really control the game from there-on in and had it not been for some dodgy defending and similar officiating, we could have been three more points to the good.
Nevertheless, it was a fantastic result all things considered. The objective from this one was simply not to lose. We have only had players just back from considerable spells on the sidelines and the game at Livingston the week beforehand was really the first time Hatate and Cameron Carter-Vickers had been in the same team together since about October time.
Likewise, with our influential captain, Callum McGregor, only fit enough to pull up a pugh with our other comrades who would be tasked with making an impact later on in the game, you would be forgiven for thinking that a draw wouldn’t have been the catastrophe that many thought it was in the media for Celtic afterwards.
If the home celebrations were anything to go by, you would have thought they’d won it right at the death, instead of gaining a point.
But Daizen Maeda was superb on Sunday afternoon and reminding all of his critics that he is still a crucial part of this Celtic team. Although many belittle his talents, he keeps defying the odds to chip in with those ever so important goals and assists in big fixtures. His selfless running is something that flies under the radar at times, but without it we wouldn’t have won all those titles and trophies these past few years.
I’m so chuffed for him!
Paul Gillespie