What Bayern Munich’s backroom staff told Celtic about Daizen Maeda after Champions League tie

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Celtic’s Scottish Premiership foes have known all about Daizen Maeda since he arrived at Parkhead in 2022.

Thanks to this season’s performances, now the whole of Europe does, too.

Maeda equaled Celtic’s Champions League record this term and he netted a fourth time in this campaign against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night to keep the Champions League knockout playoff tie alive.

When manager Brendan Rodgers threw the Japanese attacker through the middle to offer a striker alternative to Adam Idah, the buzzbomb led the line and demanded more from his teammates in the press.

So much so that Maeda “frightened” Bayern’s defensive stars late on.

Now Rodgers has revealed that the Bundesliga giants’ coaches spoke to Celtic‘s backroom staff and praised the player’s efforts at full-time.

• READ MORE: What Thierry Henry said about ‘typical’ Daizen Maeda after Celtic lost to Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich’s backroom staff spoke about Daizen Maeda

“I know some of our staff were speaking to their staff and they obviously were fully aware of him and the numbers that he created,” the gaffer revealed.

“I think in terms of high-intensity runs and sprints, he’s right up there with the very best in this competition. He is a handful, he’s a threat at whatever level.

“When you have that will and desire to run, then, as I said, the opponents will be aware of you. But no, the boy (Konrad) Laimer, he’s a good player, a midfield player, but he’s quick and he’s robust. They were a top side full of really good players.

“But what was great from our perspective was, we were there in the game competing and as our confidence grows at the level, we can improve.”

Maeda thought he would have been suspended for Wednesday’s first-leg, only for Celtic to win their UEFA appeal.

Before then, the assumption was that he would be unavailable.

Rodgers picked him for three matches in a row before that and “ran the legs off him”.

But the Irishman is sure the forward won’t be asking for a rest any time soon.

Maeda won’t be asking for a Celtic rest any time soon

“He’s remarkable, isn’t he? Yeah, he’s just an incredible player. You see the energy on the back of me talking about the three game I played him for 90 minutes and he goes into it. He’s having a remarkable season. Such a joy to work with.

“Is he the type to ask for a break? No, no, he’s an incredible… It’s as much the will to do it, because there’s lots of players that can actually run and run fast, but to do it repetitively and have the will and the desire to continually do it.

“I’m so happy for him. He’s getting the rewards now of the goals. His pressing and the energy is great, but you look at his numbers, you look at his finishing and you look at the calmness now.

“He’s taking his goals. He’s a player that’s really, really high in confidence, but we also have to be mindful that he is still human as well. We don’t want to break players.

“That’s what I’ve tried to manage right the way through this whole season. And I’ve said it again, there’s times I’ve rotated when I haven’t wanted to, but I know to keep the fitness and health of the team I’ve had to. But the players, to their credit, they’ve still got the results and some brilliant performances.

“So we’ve just got to keep pushing onto our next game now and we’re at home. We love to play there and hopefully have a great atmosphere and get the energy from the crowd to help the players and keep pushing in all these games.”