Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda has admitted he is not on top form right now, laying out his reasons with some honest comments about the transition from working under Ange Postecoglou to Brendan Rodgers.
Maeda looked sharp in pre-season deployed as a central striker but with Kyogo Furuhashi starting in that spot in the early competitive games, the winger has struggled to make the kind of impact we all want from him.
The Japanese international has now been honest about the situation and says he’s still getting used to what his new manager is asking of him.
He said [Sunday Post, 27/08 print edition]: “For the manager, it is obviously the second time at Celtic, but for me it is a new manager. We are trying to do new things, so individually and as a team we have to adapt to the new style of play.
“That quite often happens in football. For me, that means I need to adjust to the new tactics, the training, work hard and try to make adjustments in the games.
“Personally, I feel that the tactics of the previous manager are kind of instilled in my game. So obviously I have to change to the new style. However, the league has already started. You have to get the results as you apply the new style.
“The team is working hard to be the best of ourselves right now. We just have to keep working hard to do that. Usually each player has to improve, and I include myself in that. My form is not the best yet.”
Solutions and adjustments need to be found quickly. Celtic can’t really afford to get into an extended period of poor results and form with Rangers ahead.
Beyond that, it’ll be about juggling domestic football with UEFA Champions League action – it’s not going to get easier for Maeda or the rest of the squad.
Rodgers also needs to re-assess the situation and question whether he is asking too much, too soon from this group of players. Right now, the team seems caught between two eras and, as we know, clarity is needed to build consistency and momentum.
In other news, Celtic rack up 9 goals in another smashing Sunday SWPL win; Champions League soon.
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