Celtic striker Daizen Maeda “has a next level in him”, that’s according to Shaun Ontong, a former coach of Ange Postecoglou’s at Yokohama Marinos who saw Celtic’s two goals in two starts Japanese striker at close quarters in Japan and believes Ange Postecoglou gets the best out of the player.
Speaking to Australian publication KeepUp, Otong believes it took a short while for Maeda to settle in at Marinos but when he did Ange found a way to let the player off the leash and Maeda never looked back, not good news then for any defenders in the Scottish Premiership who were already worried by our rapid Daizen.
“His physical attributes straight away would impress anyone. It’s not just his speed but what impresses me so much physically with Daizen is his ability to repeat speeds, repeat sprints. A lot of quick players can make one quick burst and then they need time to recover and go again. His ability to do that and do it again, again and even in the 80th, 90th minute he is still doing it. It’s just incredible.
“Daizen took a little bit of time like most players coming into the environment to adapt. But he really embraced it. When Ange had the ability to let him off the leash and go and press, score goals. He put that belief into him and he really embraced it. You could see his true character come into play. I think this style of football, it just suits his game so much.”
And Otong believes Maeda has a real appetite to learn both on and off the pitch, pointing to the player learning English last year prior to his move to Scotland, something he claims a few of the Japanese players he comes across with ambition to play in the UK take on board.
“He has a next level in him. He always had a hunger to learn. Great character. Even before, last year, he was studying English. He would practice with me sometimes. You always knew he had ambitions again to go.You see that a lot with some of the Japanese boys. Which ones are learning English, they are thinking next step for them.”
Otong also claims there is a real sense of pride in the Japanese players that have made the move to Celtic -and in their old coach too – and it isn’t just at former club Marinos.
“You couldn’t be prouder as a club for Daizen, knowing the kind of character he is, Everyone here is. They do get behind the boys. Even Ange, around here, now Japan, because he hasn’t just brought in Marinos players, it’s amazing how proud they are as a nation of what he is doing. How the Japanese boys have gone.”
And as fulsome of Daizen Maeda as his former coach is, Shaun Otong also believes the standards set and the demands the players put on themselves to improve means there are more players playing in the J-League who could impress at Celtic.
“The Japanese level of player is exceptional. You can see in a lot of teams. I can’t speak more highly of the Japanese players. Technically, work ethic, their samurai mentality. All the time, we’re looking at how to pull these guys back because they want more and more.
“They’ll stay out there all day if you allow them to, to work on their game. Incredible mentality, technique and tactically in games. They are great players. I speak about them very highly. I see the guys Ange has brought in and to be honest there’s many more that can make the next level.”
Maeda has already impressed with a debut goal on his first start against Hibs, after just four minutes, and his non-stop pressing before adding the fourth goal in Sunday’s win at Fir Park. And if, as his former coach states, Maeda has more to come, the business end of the season could be just the platform for Daizen Maeda to reach peak performance and ensure the pride in his move back home reaches even greater levels.
Niall J
