Q: Were you surprised Daizen Maeda won the appeal, he obviously played quite a few minutes in the weekend there? Were you surprised when you got the news last night?
Daizen Maeda. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou
Q: Were you surprised Daizen Maeda won the appeal, he obviously played quite a few minutes in the weekend there? Were you surprised when you got the news last night?
Brendan Rodgers: “I know, I ran the legs off him for three games! To be fair, the appeal, it was brilliant by the club I’ve got to say, because he was always going to serve one game and then until you then get the written report, which didn’t come through until Thursday or Friday last week, then you can’t then put in your appeal. But as soon as it did come in, obviously the club put in the appeal, which with the greatest respect to UEFA, we were thinking this probably wouldn’t bear fruit. When I got the call to say he was able to play, I thought, goodness me, he’s played the three full games, he couldn’t have run any more, he’s a striker, he’s a winger. But thankfully he’s just a bundle of energy, so he’ll be OK.
Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal during the match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on February 05, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“Just answering your question, we were a wee bit surprised when it came through. But it wasn’t unsurprising because of getting two games, what was that word? Assault. There wasn’t an assault, that was in the report. So I think on that basis, the club were great, they appealed it and thankfully we won.”
Harry Kane of Bayern Munich scores his team’s first goal from the penalty spot during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and SV Werder Bremen at Allianz Arena on February 07, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Q: Brendan, just on Harry Kane, do you remember the first time you saw him as a young player and or the first time you thought, well hang on, this guy’s different?
I remember him as a youth player and then going out on loan when he was young. I’d seen him at Spells, I think he was at Millwall, he was actually at Leicester as well for a bit. I’d seen him play at Norwich.
Harry Kane of Bayern Munich scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Bayern München and SK Slovan Bratislava at Football Arena Munich on January 29, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Q: And was there fuss about him then, was he one of these hyped people?
Brendan Rodgers: “No, no, no, Harry would tell you himself, he wasn’t what I would say the gold medallist. And that’s normally the players who do come through anyway, those silver medallist players, the guys that are having to strive and fight for their careers. And that was Harry, he would tell you himself.
“But then he found someone who really appreciated him and backed him in Tim, and Tim was working in the youths at that time. And when Harry had the chance to go out on loan again, didn’t want to go, Tim put him in the team and from that he’s never really looked back. Then it’s all about your attitude, your professionalism, your desire to be the best player you can be. You see all of that, you see how he’s developed, how he’s matured, his training, everything. I’ve obviously spoken with boys that worked with him with England as well. And yeah, they speak so highly of him. So, a world-class player and yeah, he’s doing a brilliant job for his team now.”
