BRENDAN RODGERS hopes Daizen Maeda will have Bayern Munich running scared in the Champions League at a sell-out Parkhead tomorrow evening.
And that is after the Celtic boss admitted he had “ran the legs off” the Japanese speedster who played EVERY minute of the team’s last three games – Motherwell (3-1), Dundee (6-0) and Raith Rovers (5-0) – and fired in six goals in the process.
The seemingly-inexhaustible raider will face the Bundesliga pacesetters in the first leg of the play-off after it looked as though he would be forced to serve the second of a two-game ban after his red card five minutes from the end of the 1-0 win over Switzerland’s Young Boys in the east end of Glasgow last month.
Maeda missed the 4-2 loss against Aston Villa in the Midlands, but an appeal from the Hoops hierarchy got the green light from UEFA and the player’s suspension was halved.
PICK IT OUT…Daizen Maeda races away in triumph after scoring the matchwinner in the 2-1 Scottish Cup victory over Kilmarnock at Parkhead last month.
The champions’ top scorer, with 21 strikes to his credit in a prolific campaign, goes straight into the attack against Harry Kane and Co in a turnaround the Hoops gaffer admitted was “a big surprise.”
Rodgers said: “It’s such a great bit of news that we got. He’s an extraordinary player. I think how he’s been this year for us, not just in scoring goals, but what his value gives to the team in terms of his pressing and his honesty to the game.
“So, to have that mentality and that ability available was a big surprise for us, but a nice surprise.
“I ran the legs off him for three games!
“It was brilliant by the club, I’ve got to say, because he was always going to serve one game, but until you get the written report, which didn’t come through until Thursday/Friday last week, you can’t put in your appeal.
GRIN AND TONIC…Brendan Rodgers is all smiles after the news Daizen Maeda had been cleared to play against Bayern Munich.
“But, as soon as it did come in, obviously the club put in the appeal. Which, with the greatest respect to UEFA, we were thinking this probably wouldn’t bear fruit.
“And then, when I got the call to say he was able to play, I thought: ‘Goodness me, he’s played the three full games’.
“He couldn’t run any more as a striker, as a winger. But, thankfully, he’s just a bundle of energy, so he’ll be okay.”
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I was a wee bit surprised when it came through. But it wasn’t unsurprising because of getting two games. What was that word? Assault, aye. Assault was what was causing it.
“It wasn’t an assault, that was in the report. So, I think on that basis alone, the club were great. They appealed and, thankfully, we won. He’ll be fine for the games.
“He’s super professional. He trains as he plays, so he’s been an absolute joy to work with and just seeing him develop and grow over the course of the season. I think his ability, his finishing, but add to that, like I say, the work-rate and intensity.
“Daizen’s a really, really pivotal player for us. He’s obviously improving as a player with experiences and comfort in how we work and how we play.
“I think it’s just maturity. He understands the physicality of the game in these parts of the world and the physicality at the highest level in European football.
“He’s well suited to that and now he’s really getting consistently into positions. I think what you have with him, his conversion rate now is something that has improved.
“He’s probably always had chances and always been there. Now he arrives with confidence to score and now his technique and his finishing, he’s top level.”
RUNNING SCARED…dynamic Daizen Maeda leaves Ibrox rival Mohamed Diamande trailing as he heads for goal in Celtic’s League Cup Final win at Hampden in December.
Rodgers added: “The coaches do a brilliant job with him in terms of the work and I try to inspire him and manage him and point out little things within his game. But he is a learner and he’s learned very well.
“He does all the things that, in terms of what you don’t need talent for, he does them to the highest level. All the running, the pressing, his will to run and run and run is absolutely incredible.
“I haven’t worked with too many like that.
“For someone to have the desire to want to run is absolutely at the highest level. So, we’re very lucky to have him here.
“Ange’s done brilliant to bring him in and he just keeps continuing to grow and develop and now you see his composure. He’s scored goals, all types of goals and just very, very pleased that he’s with us.
“Just having him available was the most important thing.”
ALEX’S ANGLE: MAEDA ‘REPRIEVE’ FOR JOTA
