Q: It was a chance for Daizen Maeda to play the centre-forward role. I think he must have a pretty good strike rate when he does play there for you, obviously. Is he taking that on board that it’s a chance maybe to play there a bit more often for him?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I’ve spoken to him. I told him the plan, really, over the next few games, leading into obviously him missing the Bayern game. He knew Motherwell, Dundee and in this game, he would flip between the left side, central and wide, so he could frame it in his own mind. I know wherever he plays, he’s got the skill set and the attributes to give me what the team needs.
Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his team’s fifth goal and his hat-trick goal during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“You see that today. His first one was a great finish. A striker’s finish is not lashed out, it’s just guided into the bottom corner. Second one, ball comes across, you’ve got to concentrate. How many times have people missed them or hit it over the bar, but good finish. And his third one, what he’s done consistently now, and what we asked of our wingers to track the game into the box from low crosses, be there, and the speed he makes up to get there is frightening. So, yeah, absolutely brilliant player. So happy he’s with us.”
READ THIS…Nine changes not a problem thanks to Celtic’s main man Daizen Maeda
Jeffrey Schlupp of Celtic is seen prior to the Celtic FC v Raith Rovers FC – Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: Were you pleased with Jeffrey Schlupp today?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah. Again, it’s a complex system to play. Sometimes you ask him to be inside the full-back, sometimes on the outside. So for him, he’s only in the building, but you can see already, he’s starting to figure out what we’re asking him to do. His second half was much better, so he was more advanced, and he opens up the lines and then he can move.
“You see his physique, you see his quality, and once he feels the rhythm of the team even more, you will get more out of him. I am so pleased for Dane Murray. I really think that he can be a really top player. I’ve seen him play here when I was away from Celtic, seen him play, I think it was a Midtyjylland game when he was a young boy at 17, and I was impressed with him that night. He was playing with the left-side centre-half, I think.
Jamie Gullan of Raith Rovers controls the ball whilst under pressure from Dane Murray of Celtic during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025.(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“Obviously, a real challenge in time of injuries, but he didn’t accept it. He went away and worked on his body, and you see him now out on the pitch. His power, his speed, his dominance, and he can play football. So I’m very, very pleased for him, because as I said, that’s the first time since that game he’s played.
“The guys coming in, you would never have thought they hadn’t been playing as a team, and that’s a great credit to them.”
🗣️ “That makes me very proud”
Brendan Rodgers says he felt his Celtic side were ‘outstanding’ during their 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers 🍀 pic.twitter.com/e2gZOPe6zo
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 8, 2025
