Celtic have booked their play-off ticket in the Champions League, but it was never easy.
There was a long build-up to this game because Celtic last played in Europe on December 10 and then there was a small break to deal with the festive games.
But the champions of Scotland returned with a bang, as Celtic recorded a late 1-0 win over Young Boys, including Daizen Maeda getting a straight red card towards the end.
There were a number of talking points, including the three disallowed goals for offside in the first half and Arne Engels’ penalty being saved.
With five minutes left on the clock and still no goal in sight, you wouldn’t have blamed the fans if they were fearing the worst against the Champions League’s bottom-of-the-table side.
But no matter how they come, they all count, as an own goal, following an incredible pass from Reo Hatate, resulted in the three points and Celtic booking their play-off ticket.
The only downside was the fact that Maeda was given a straight red right at the death.
Celtic told Daizen Maeda’s red card was ‘soft’ against Young Boys
Maeda has a history of getting sent off in the Champions League and now it has repeated itself for the all-action winger.
It means Maeda will miss Celtic’s clash against Aston Villa next week, but given that it’s a dead rubber for the champions of Scotland, in regards to already progressing, then you rather he misses that game, rather than a knockout match.
Either way, Mark Wilson was reacting to Maeda’s red card as it happened and he felt that it was ‘soft’, as he told Sky Sports News (22/01/25 at 9:50 pm).
“Maeda just gets in a tangle there, he is just behind the defender and he is reaching out for the ball,” said Wilson.
“Tries to wrap his leg around it. Looks like it’s a kick out. It catches him in the calf. Yes, this is going to be a red card. His yellow card is going to be rescinded.
“The referee had a look at it on the monitor. It’s a red for Maeda. It’s soft. It really is soft. But he is off anyway.”
Brendan Rodgers reaction to Maeda set to miss Aston Villa trip
Celtic host Dundee at the weekend and it will be interesting to see if Rodgers rests some of his key players for that Villa Park trip.
Even though qualification is secured, at the end of the day, every position matters and there is also the chance of making a statement and getting into the top eight.
Rodgers stated that Daizen will be a ‘big miss’ because of how he presses from the front, but he is backing his side to still showcase what they are all about, as he told TNT Sports.
“We will miss Daizen, which will be a big miss for us, in terms of the pressing element and the penetration,” said Rodgers
“But we can go there (Aston Villa), like we have done in every game and is to go, work very hard, enjoy and go look to play the level we feel we can.
“It’s a beautiful pitch and a great stadium at Villa Park, so we will look forward to it when it comes.”
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