Ange Postecoglou’s latest comments on Daizen Maeda perfectly capture why the Japanese forward may be Celtic’s most irreplaceable player.
Goals and assists matter, but the qualities that truly separate Maeda from almost everyone else are the ones that rarely appear on a stats sheet. Postecoglou’s latest World Cup comments highlighted exactly why.
Postecoglou worked closely with Maeda during his time at Celtic, so when he speaks about the winger’s strengths, it is worth listening. His assessment was as blunt as it was revealing.
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Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic verdict on Daizen Maeda could not be clearer
Postecoglou is on World Cup pundit duty with ITV and when asked about Maeda, the former Celtic boss could not hold back the superlatives.
Postecoglou said, “Daizen Maeda is just a pressing machine. In terms of physical characteristics, he is absolutely elite. If the Dutch are sleeping on the ball, he’ll close them down.
“He’s an absolute freak of a physical specimen. He’s got a real appetite for closing down, he’s exceptional.”
Those comments get to the heart of what makes Maeda such a unique player. Plenty of forwards can score goals. Very few can maintain the relentless intensity he produces for 90 minutes.
Celtic’s system has long relied on aggressive pressing from the front and few players in Europe execute that role better than Maeda.
Daizen Maeda’s Celtic numbers still fail to tell the full story
Maeda’s contribution during Celtic’s title-winning campaign was significant. His 14 league goals and six assists underline his attacking value.
However, reducing his impact to those numbers misses the bigger picture. His work without the ball, defensive discipline and ability to unsettle opponents are every bit as important as his end product.
That is why Postecoglou focused so heavily on his physical attributes rather than his goalscoring record.
How Martin O’Neill helped reignite Daizen Maeda’s Celtic season
Postecoglou also highlighted the difficult spell Maeda endured before finishing the season in excellent form.
He said: “Maeda’s goalscoring towards the end (was brilliant). Martin put his arm around him I think and got the best out of him, because he was going through a tough time and at the end of it, he was unbelievable.
“He scored an unbelievable overhead kick against Rangers, that’s the freakish ability he has, from a physical perspective, to score goals like that.”
The turnaround was clear to see. A player who looked short of confidence at times became one of Celtic’s most decisive performers during the run-in.
Why Celtic simply cannot replace what Daizen Maeda brings
As Maeda prepared to face the Netherlands at the World Cup, Postecoglou delivered perhaps the biggest compliment of all.
The Aussie said, “I’m really looking forward to seeing him play tonight. He will not be daunted at all. He’s got that sort of nature about him, he doesn’t care who he’s playing against. He knows the physical capacity he has, he’ll match himself against anybody.”
That mentality, combined with his elite athleticism, is what makes Maeda so valuable. Celtic have talented attackers throughout the squad, but they do not have another player who can replicate his unique blend of energy, intensity and resilience.
Postecoglou’s comments were not simply praise. They were a reminder of why Maeda remains one of the most important players Celtic possess.
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