Daizen Maeda is well known for his energy and work ethic at Celtic and new data from UEFA shows just how quick the Japanese winger is.
Maeda was a standout for the Bhoys against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday night, not only scoring in the 5-1 win but setting the tone with tireless pressing and harassing of his opponents.
The Japanese international is getting better and better under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.
His performances have made him a real hero of the support, who love his attitude and desire off the ball as much as his goals.
But is his raw speed just hyped up or is it genuinely elite? Week one of the Champions League shows he’s up there with the paciest on the continent – and puts in far more effort than those directly around him in the rankings.
Only five men in Champions League quicker than Daizen Maeda
UEFA recorded that Maeda’s top speed vs Slovan Bratislava was a lightning 34.2km/h.
Only five people were above him by that metric – Josha Vagnoman of Stuttgart, Young Boys’ Silvere Ganvoula, Fikayo Tomori at AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola and Savinho of Manchester City.
Crucially though, Maeda’s efforts are sustained and he covers much more distance than the quickest in Europe.
From the top 20 for top speed in the Champions League on matchday one, nobody covered more distance than Maeda’s 11.2km.
The winger covered multiple kilometres more than the five players mentioned above, with Tomori closest at 2.4km behind.
It all demonstrates that Maeda isn’t just quick, but absolutely incredible at getting around the pitch both in support of attack and defence.
Brendan Rodgers knows how effective Maeda is
That work ethic is something that the manager noted in a press conference this week, lauding Maeda as world class when it comes to pressing opposition teams.
He said: “I would doubt there is anyone better in world football than Daizen Maeda in that context.
“I watched an image towards the end of the game and if you see a certain angle of the clip he is making a recovery run into the left-back position tracking their right back and thinking the ball is come across. But then the ball instead goes to the centre half and Maeda presses it and nicks it and is away.
“Even if you can do that, it is the will and desire to actually do that. Most players won’t have that. He could have easily dropped that press and not do that one.
“That was the one that was important and he went, realised he wasn’t getting there and actually got to the centre half before the guy who should have got there. It was incredible, unbelievable pressing but that is his mentality.”
The 26-year-old is adding consistent goal contributions to his game now, too. He’s netted four and assisted two more in his six matches so far this season including against Rangers and in the Champions League.
What more could you want from a winger? Celtic have the most effective presence possible on that left flank. Long may it continue.
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