Daizen Maeda opens up on his ‘different way’ of recovering after giving his all for Celtic

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Daizen Maeda is famed for his incredible energy and work rate every single time he pulls on a Celtic jersey.

The Japanese winger has pace to burn and a seemingly unending bank of energy reserves as Maeda continually runs himself into the ground for Celtic.

But not only that, the Celtic winger has chipped in with 10 goals and four assists as he pulls up on a par with Hoops hero, Moussa Dembele in the Champions League stakes.

Maeda is the first Celtic player since Dembele to score three goals in a single Champions League campaign as the Japan international makes his name not only for his work rate but also his goalscoring exploits.

However, as Celtic fans wonder where Maeda gets his energy from, the 26-year-old has shared how he has a very unique recovery routine that helps recharge his batteries for every Celtic fixture.

Daizen Maeda explains how all Celtic players need ‘to prove themselves’

Maeda told The Herald [print edition page 70], “Regardless of the opposition or the competition, we just have to win the next game and to keep winning.

“We can think of who comes after once we win this next one.

“No club which plays this many games can possibly go with the same starting XI every time, so it’s up to whoever is picked to prove themselves because, as I say, we always need to win.

“Strong teams have players who can step up and show themselves. We are that kind of team and I am sure we have guys who can do this over the tough period ahead.”

Celtic winger Daizen Maeda’s remarkable recovery program

“But I want to play every game,” Maeda said, “So it’s up to me to recover as well as possible so that hopefully I will start.

“Me? I recover by playing with the kids. After a lot of games, I take them to soft play centres and that refreshes me.

“Maybe I have a different way of relaxing from the others, but that works for me.”

That’s quite the admission. So no strenuous stretching regime. No strict dietary supplements are programs. Just a simple trip to the soft play and Maeda is wound up and ready to go again for Celtic.

Maybe it’s just as well the winger’s recovery is as simple as that. With the number of Celtic fixtures coming up, it seems like Maeda is going to be spending a lot of time at his local soft play in December.

With Aberdeen, Hibs and Dinamo Zagreb all up in a seven day period for Celtic, the Japanese speed king is going to need all the soft play rest and recovery he can fit in.