Celtic didn’t get a lot right the other night away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and will be keen to swiftly forget their 7-1 defeat at Signal Iduna Park.
Post-match, Brendan Rodgers said the Bhoys got ‘punished’ by Dortmund for every mistake they made on a sobering evening in North-Rhine Westphalia.
Despite a familiar Champions League tale unfolding for Celtic, there is a bigger picture to focus on once the dust is fully settled.
Following a blistering Hoops’ victory over Slovan Bratislava on matchday one of the competition, combined with their disappointment earlier this week, the reigning Scottish champions remain in a knockout playoff berth heading into their clash against Atalanta next month.
Ultimately, having the power to stay in and around those slots will be crucial to any hopes of progression once the league phase concludes. Either way, Marvin Bartley was left questioning one aspect of Celtic’s heavy defeat against Nuri Sahin’s Dortmund.
Celtic winger Daizen Maeda’s involvement vs Dortmund
Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Bartley was left ‘surprised’ that Celtic didn’t look to get Daizen Maeda involved more by playing diagonals after he started the affair ‘extremely well’ and got on the scoresheet.
He stated: “I think Maeda started the game extremely well; I was surprised they didn’t hit more diagonals. I know it’s not Celtic’s style, but you do have to change it up because otherwise, you are going to be punished.
“In terms of Brendan’s comments after the game, he was saying he wouldn’t change it. I think it’s difficult because as a manager, you’re emotional after games.
“You know, he’s set them up, he’s done the tactics and they’ve just been beaten 7-1 and then somebody says to you ‘oh by the way, looking at hindsight, would you have changed that?
“In the cold light of day, maybe today he would think I would’ve changed that, but straight after the game it’s very difficult. That’s why sometimes we can’t hang on every single comment, it can’t keep happening though.”
Daizen Maeda’s fantastic start to Celtic season
Although the Japan international was responsible for giving away the ball for one of Dortmund’s goals the other night, his overall start to the campaign has been something to celebrate.
From eight appearances, Maeda has six goals and two assists under Rodgers, who looks to have taken his level up a notch or two in the last year or so.
Maeda’s Celtic form has earned praise from Neil Lennon in recent times, with the former Hoops boss labelling the man in question as a ‘real asset’ for the Bhoys at Champions League level.
Ultimately, his goal at Signal Iduna Park was nothing more than a minor footnote, but he is fast becoming one of his side’s most clinical attacking threats and deserves all the adulation he is receiving.
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