Daizen Maeda – “I think he’s stepped it up a level in terms of his quality,” Michael Stewart | OneFootball

Michael Stewart appeared on this week’s episode of the Scottish Football Social Club podcast and reckons that Daizen Maeda has taken his game to a new level…

Daizen Maeda during the UEFA Champions League Training Session at Lennoxtown on February 11, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It comes amidst a clamour for the Japanese star who has been consistently strong for the Hoops this year, both in terms of his overall game and crucially now in front of the goal.

Maeda’s performances of late have been nothing short of tremendous as he has been given Man of the Match awards left, right and centre, whilst being included in the Team of the Week every other matchday. Under Brendan Rodgers, he’s really blossomed and come into his own and looks every bit a European-level footballer for sure.

A massive boost to the club

Daizen Maeda of Celtic is seen prior to the Celtic FC v Raith Rovers FC – Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It was a massive boost to the club and Brendan Rodgers when his UEFA ban was rescinded and ultimately reduced to just the Aston Villa game. With Bayern Munich now in town for a punch-up, it will be essential that Daizen performs to the high standard we have become accustomed to this season and Michael Stewart reckons that he has really stepped up a notch in quality this term.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his team’s fifth goal and his hat-trick goal during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I was saying it in commentary at the weekend and during the week against Dundee as well” he said. “I think he’s stepped it up a level in terms of his quality. You know the finish during the week against Dundee where he chips the ‘keeper is absolute top-class. Top-class. And that technical quality has never been what you would regard as his strength. It’s been power, pace, energy, work-rate. And you know, occasionally he’s in good areas and he scores a good few goals.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic reacts after scoring the opening goal during the Celtic FC v Raith Rovers FC – Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

‘He’s scoring some real quality goals now’

“But he’s scoring some real quality goals now. You look at his second one, when the ball was fizzed across from, I think it was Yang. And he’s going towards the goal at pace. They can easily go over the bar or past the post. Smashes it in the back of the net. No problem. No question about it. His first goal as well – guiding it into the corner with his left foot.”

Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal during the match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on February 05, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

‘I can’t remember the last time it happened’

He added: “Here’s the thing right. See with Maeda at the moment, I can’t remember the last time – and it used to happen two or three times a game and no disrespect to him because I think everybody recognises it – he would get in a great area and would go to cross it. And he would stick it in the stand. I can’t remember the last time it happened at all.”

Paul Gillespie

Celtic fans Celtic v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, Celtic Park, 31 October 2017. Photo by Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

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