Daizen Maeda has been Celtic’s go-to player this season.
The Japanese attacker has been a revelation in Glasgow, with manager Brendan Rodgers praising his mobility as he continues to switch him from left-wing to through the middle based on the opponent.
Maeda has broken Celtic records this season, dwarfing his own achievements from previous years at Celtic Park.
He has improved dramatically in front of goal this season, with John Collins and other experts suggesting Maeda has “proven him wrong” with his efforts.
For Rangers star and former defender Craig Moore, Maeda has shone at Parkhead and become as a key player for the league leaders.
Daizen Maeda has been compared to Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers
However, the Australian former centre-back was able to compare Celtic’s buzzbomb to an Ibrox star, Cyriel Dessers, when it came to missed chances between the sticks.
“His confidence now is through the roof. He can score goals and he did do it at Yokohama as Brendan Rodgers touched on. When you look at him he is not technically brilliant,” Moore said on GO Radio.
“He’s not individual skill that is going to stand you up, jink, come in and step over. But he is just unbelievably effective.
“That is crucial and key. He is able to repeat efforts, he is durable and puts himself in situations. He had a great chance to score a second goal against Hibs where he should score, sliding in at the back post. That is Maeda.
“But like a little bit [Cyriel] Dessers in terms of the chances that are missed. That is a possibility for Maeda. But he’s going to be there in positions to score more times than not.”
| Maeda 2024/5 | Dessers 2024/5 |
| Matches played: 41 | Matches played: 43 |
| Goals: 27 | Goals: 22 |
| Assists: 9 | Assists: 7 |
What the opposition has said about Celtic’s Daizen Maeda
Maeda may well miss some of his opportunities as a Celtic player but he comes up with the goods, too.
Maeda, a 27-year-old with numerous assists, is a strong contender for player of the year.
Fans had expected Nicolas Kuhn to win the award, but his form has dipped since the beginning of the year. However, Maeda has maintained his previous level of consistency. Prior to his goal against Hibs, one opponent praised Maeda.
“Yeah, that was fantastic, wasn’t it? Half-time, I was blowing (against Maeda).. then they were like, nah, let’s put on Jota! I was like, ‘sweet, that sounds good’.”
