It’s a return to the Europa League for Celtic this season.
Not the place the Celtic fans want to be, but from a competition standpoint, you expect Brendan Rodgers’ side to compete far better.
Put away the negative noise outside of the club, then several Celtic players should more than belong on this stage, after the Bhoys’ progression in the Champions League last season.
Ahead of the 2025/26 Europa League kicking off, after the September international break, the competition’s main social media account was ranking some of the best players across various categories.
Daizen Maeda is the quickest Europa League player
Daizen Maeda was Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year last term, including scoring four goals in Europe’s elite competition.
But the Europa League, based on EA Sports FC’s ratings, have ranked Maeda as the quickest player in the competition.
The Japan star tops the list with a speed rating of 92 out of 99, beating Rangers’ Rabbi Matondo, who is second, and Young Boys winger Alan Virginius in third.
Cameron Carter-Vickers top three strongest players in the Europa League
Another category where a Celtic player featured was ‘strength’, and to nobody’s surprise, this is where the hard-hitting Cameron Carter-Vickers enters.
The American was ranked third strongest in the competition, with a physicality rating of 84 out of 99, as VfB Stuttgart’s Jeff Chabot is first, and Real Betis forward Ezequiel Ávila is second.
Perhaps, someone like Auston Trusty, as well as Maeda, will feel they, too, should be on the list, because they have power in their game.
As Celtic’s, dare it be said, unwanted Europa League journey starts against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday, 24 September, in Serbia.
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