Stan Petrov taken aback after Daizen Maeda stuns Celtic supporters once again

By David Walton

April 11, 2022

Stiliyan Petrov has tipped his hat to Celtic forward Daizen Maeda after another superb performance for Celtic against St Johnstone.

Maeda managed to get his name on the scoresheet when he headed home goal number 3 of the 7-0 mauling. However, it wasn’t just his goal that earned him the man-of-the-match award from Celtic TV.

Nope, it was the sheer energy levels of the Japanese international. Once again, he simply wouldn’t stop as he produced 90 minutes of total nonstop running. Whether it be using his pace to get in behind or tracking back to halt counter-attacks at 7-0 – Maeda was all about the team yesterday.

And after watching yet another all-intensity display in which Maeda notched a goal and an assist, Petrov couldn’t help but highlight his efforts post-match on Celtic TV:

“He just did not stop running. He fully deserved it [man of the match] and he has a smile on his face. He does the work and he did not stop. We seen a couple of situations in the first and second half when the team lost the ball, he was the first to react.

“He just wanted everybody to follow his lead, This is the way you lead – from the front. You do not let the opposition rest and that’s what he does.

“And he makes sure he’s always there and he makes sure that he tries to get there as quickly as he can to close the opposition.”

Daizen Maeda impressing the right people as he refuses to let up

Yesterday could’ve been a game in which Maeda chose to take the foot off the accelerator. Especially after Celtic went 3 goals ahead and were cruising going in at the break.

However, once again, he was the epitome of everything Ange Postecoglou wants this Celtic team to be. Highlighted with an absolutely stunning piece of defending in the final few minutes at 7-0 that was published on social media.

Maeda isn’t just a footballer – he’s an entertainer. He knows football is a 90-minute game and that supporters don’t pay their hard-earned money to watch a 45-minute performance. You can see how determined he is to give his all for 90 minutes, and there’s absolutely nothing negative you can say about that.

The cynics will say he’s increasing the risk of injury. That he’s putting himself at risk unnecessarily. But that’s just what the philosophy of this Celtic side demands. That it does indeed give its all for 90 minutes and doesn’t look for any shortcuts.

The rewards are there for us too. Due to the fact we haven’t stopped at 2-0 and 3-0 in the past, our goal difference is absolutely towering over that of Rangers’. Ultimately, that means we have an extra point on the board.

Everything about Maeda makes him the perfect fit for this Celtic side, and that kind of energy and enthusiasm isn’t something you can train into a player. Credit to him.

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