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“I was totally PERPLEXED, couldn’t imagine such”- Daizen Maeda Reveals Shocking Celtic Move Against Club Brugge in Champions League That He’s ‘Never’ Seen Before.
Celtic’s Champions League journey this season has been full of excitement and surprises.
Brendan Rodgers kicked off his Champions League campaign in style, leading Celtic to a dominant 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava at Parkhead.
However, the Bhoys were soon humbled in a heavy 7-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund, with the German side, last season’s finalists, teaching Celtic a harsh lesson in Europe’s elite competition.
Despite this setback, Celtic bounced back with an impressive 1-1 draw against Atalanta in Bergamo, followed by a commanding 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig at Celtic Park.
Yet, it was in Celtic’s draw with Club Brugge that Japanese winger Daizen Maeda witnessed something he had never seen from his teammates before in the Champions League. After Cameron Carter-Vickers’ unfortunate own goal, which handed the Belgians a point, it was the team’s reaction that left Maeda in awe.
Maeda shared with The Herald [print edition, page 70]: “In my time here, we’ve never had a huddle like we did after that goal. But we showed great discipline, and it demonstrated how much we wanted to win the match. It was a positive gesture during a tough moment. What happened to Carter-Vickers wasn’t just his fault; it was a collective responsibility, and we all share in that. He’s been a leader for us, and he will continue to be.”
Maeda has enjoyed a standout season for Celtic under Rodgers, looking like a completely transformed player. With 10 goals and 4 assists so far, the Japan international is making a name for himself, especially in the Champions League, where he is being compared to former Celtic star Moussa Dembélé.
Here’s a look at Maeda’s key moments in the Champions League for Celtic:
Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava: Maeda scored Celtic’s fourth goal just 10 minutes after the Slovakians pulled one back at 3-0.
Borussia Dortmund 7-1 Celtic: Maeda equalized shortly after Dortmund took the lead, briefly sparking hope among the traveling Celtic supporters. However, the game quickly slipped away.
Celtic 1-1 Club Brugge: Maeda netted a stunning equalizer, showcasing a level of skill that would have impressed Europe’s top players.
Celtic 2-0 RB Leipzig: Maeda’s relentless pressing caused Leipzig problems, leading to an error that contributed to Nicolas Kuhn’s second goal for Celtic.
Without a doubt, Daizen Maeda has become one of Celtic’s most crucial players, and he is quickly earning hero status among the club’s supporters.
