Securing a Champions League knockout playoff last night vs Young Boys was all that mattered for Celtic.
The Hoops knew a win would do it and focused all their time and attention on seeing off the Swiss champions which they managed in what was a nervy 90 plus minutes at Parkhead.
It was all systems go on this one fixture in particular as was made clear when Brendan Rodgers responded to talk of a top eight finish still being mathematically possible.
It will take a huge win over raging Unai Emery’s Aston Villa next week down south but Rodgers was simply pleased to win last night after an exhausting week of preparation.
It took an own goal for Celts to win despite Kyogo having three goals chalked off and Arne Engels missing a poor penalty.
Daizen Maeda was sent off for Celtic vs Young Boys
Yet there was another flashpoint in the game which has gone under the radar, somewhat.
Daizen Maeda was shown a straight red card following VAR intervention for a kick-out at Young Boys’ defender Mohamed Ali Camara.
Referee Rohit Saggi had initially shown a yellow to the Japanese international but upon a second viewing on the monitor it was a red he brandished which sees him miss next week vs Aston Villa.
For BBC Sportsound pundit James McFadden, he feels missing Maeda would be a blow to Celtic as he is so important to the club and what they look to do in an attacking sense.
But the former Everton and Scotland attacker has also warned fans that Maeda may also be missing from their knockout playoff clash against their next drawn opponent if it comes down to serious foul play which brings a further punishment.
McFadden says Celtic losing Maeda for playoff would be ‘massive blow’
Faddy said on the sending off: “He can argue all he wants, he meant to kick him.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of force, I saw the ref at the time and thought he actually saw the incident and felt there wasn’t a lot of force in it and that was why it was a yellow card.
“But it’s a huge blow and so late in the game, you know you’re going to need everyone, it’s a moment of madness.
“We’ve all been there but it’s such a huge blow.
“I know there’s not a lot of time left but you’re thinking if Young Boys get a draw here, you worry about the playoff round when it comes, but having to go to Villa Park needing a result and you’ve got one of your main outlets missing, it’s a huge blow.
“That will soften it slightly but looking forward if he’ll be missing from the playoff – which is most likely if it’s serious foul play, is a massive blow for Celtic.”
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