“I need to achieve more and more results with my own team and keep aiming higher. That’s where it all starts,” Daizen Maeda…
Daizen Maeda has dismissed speculation of a summer departure from Celtic while discussing Japan’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
One goal short of 30 for the season
The forward has enjoyed an outstanding season in front of goal, netting on 29 occasions across all competitions for Celtic, both in Scotland and Europe. While Maeda was seen training alone last week, he remained an unused substitute during Japan’s tight 1-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday.
When questioned by local media about the possibility of leaving the Scottish champions this summer for a club in one of the ‘top 5 leagues,’ Maeda’s reply was revealing. Speaking to Tokyo Sports, Daizen Maeda said: “The results are the result of all the hard work I’ve put in up until now.”
‘Now it feels like the ball is coming to me’
“Up until now, I’ve been in the mix, but the ball just hasn’t come to me, so now it feels like the ball is coming to me. I haven’t really made any changes,” Daizen Maeda said.
“Now I can be part of the national team, but I think in a year things can change a lot, so in order to win this competition, I want to do well against Saudi Arabia.”
“I have scored a few goals at home so it will be important to keep doing that and focus on results with the national team. I need to achieve more and more results with my own team and keep aiming higher. That’s where it all starts.”
‘I just fight for the team I am with and that’s all I want to do’
Maeda added: “I don’t think about whether I can’t play for the team I go to or not, I just fight for the team I am with and that’s all I want to do. I think it would be good if I can do that.”
Maeda made the move to Celtic on New Year’s Eve in 2021, joining fellow J-League players Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate, who arrived from Gamba Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale, respectively. The versatile forward was joint top scorer in Japan that season with former Tottenham Hotspur target Leandro Damiao.
He rejoined his former Yokohama F Marinos manager, Ange Postecoglou, at Celtic, and together they secured four trophies in less than two years. Daizen has gone on to win another three trophies under Brendan Rodgers with hopefully another two to come before the season is over.
Conor Spence
Whether he stays or goes at the end of this season, Daizen Maeda is going to go down in history as one of the greatest signings of all time. We have had so many great players! McGrory, McStay, Malley, Johnstone, Lennox, Auld, Gemmell, Larsson, Lennon, Murdoch, Hughes, Kyogo, Jota, VVD, O’Riley, etc., etc., etc., all world class players who play or played in Scotland.
But Maeda is forever going to be right up there amongst them!