Wilfried Nancy told Celtic star is ‘too fast for his own good’ after defeat to Hearts

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That was a morale-sapping defeat for Celtic and Wilfried Nancy.

Celtic started so well against Hearts; the intensity was high, the football was slick, and big chances were being created.

All whilst Nancy deployed his new formation, not hesitating to change things up straight away, despite the successful interim spell of Martin O’Neill.

But Celtic missed big chances at the start, and in the end, it proved to be costly because it allowed Derek McInnes’ side to settle into the game, and then their goals came in either side of the half.

• READ MORE: Chris Sutton questions Wilfried Nancy’s trust towards Martin O’Neill after Celtic lose to Hearts

Daizen Maeda is ‘too quick’ for his own good as Celtic lose to Hearts

The man at the centre of those big chances was Daizen Maeda. The Japan star was deployed down the middle by Nancy, and he caused havoc off the shoulder.

But when Maeda’s missed chances were discussed on Sky Sports Football (07/12/25), Kris Boyd noted how Celtic’s versatile forward is ‘too fast for his own good.’

For Maeda’s second chance, Scott Brown felt he took ‘one touch too many’, and he couldn’t get a clean shot away, as Celtic created next to little after that opening storm.

James McFadden did point out that both of Celtic’s big chances came from ‘quick forward passes in behind’, which decreased as the game wore on.

Boyd: “Celtic have had some amount of chances.”

Brown: “In the first ten or 15 minutes, I thought Celtic should have been out of sight. Then, after that, it has been plain sailing. Loads of possession. Locking in.”

Boyd: “Goalkeeper does really well here (Maeda’s first big chance), because he comes and stops. Maeda catches his eye line and thinks, ‘I need to hit it.’

“This is an absolute sitter (Maeda’s second big chance).”

Brown: “Maeda takes one touch too many.”

Boyd: “He is too fast for his own good.”

McFadden: “These two chances were from quick forward passes in behind.”

Boyd: “Maeda’s touch takes him towards Nygren. He has to slow down. Nobody is catching him. Nobody. Slow down, be composed and put the ball in the back of the net. His legs were going too fast for his body.”