Brendan Rodgers is hoping Celtic will continue their impressive start to the season when they welcome Falkirk to Parkhead on Sunday.
From the Champions League to the quarter-finals of the League Cup, it’s a test for the team, in terms of their mindset.
Everyone knows Celtic can wipe the floor in these games, but going from the high of the Champions League to playing a team in Scotland’s second-tier tests to see if you are going to be complacent.
You suspect Rodgers will make changes because this is an ample chance to manage his squad ahead of several huge games in these coming months.
That gives the bench players a chance to prove themselves and possibly push themselves into the first-team picture because there is serious quality across the squad.
One man who everyone can look towards is Daizen Maeda and how he has been one the best players during the opening few months of the season.
Rodgers has already lauded Maeda for setting the benchmark and Andy Walker is also loving the work of the Japan star, as he told Go Radio.
Even when Celtic are cruising during games, Maeda is chasing lost causes and doing the work of not another player, but two or three because he covers so much ground.
Walker thinks the 26-year-old is a ‘great example of what you can do off the ball’, as he showcased when Celtic breezed past Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.
Daizen Maeda an example at Celtic
“It wonderful to see,” said Walker about Maeda’s mentality and work rate. “Of course, he can improve on his end product, but I think everyone is forgiving of any player who gives you absolutely everything. That’s what you see from Maeda time and time again.
“His finish was really good (in the Champions League). I think he is such an important part of the team now because, as Brendan Rodgers was saying – I think he is a great example of what you can do off the ball.”
Daizen Maeda under Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers has a rich history throughout his managerial career of getting the absolute best out of players and taking them to the next level.
Matt O’Riley took his game to incredible heights under Rodgers, Liam Scales emerged as one of the stories of last season and Paulo Bernardo is showing incredible promise.
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Maeda is on the same track and this could be the campaign where he produces his best one yet.
You could sometimes argue that he needs to be more selfish off the ball and it will help increase his numbers, but that’s what makes him such a popular player.
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