Brendan Rodgers talks Daizen Maeda – “I think he is an amazing role model”

The Celtic Star

·10 marzo 2025

Brendan Rodgers talks Daizen Maeda – “I think he is an amazing role model”

Brendan Rodgers has heaped praise on Japanese forward Daizen Maeda, after the striker helped put Hibs to the sword and send Celtic into the Scottish Cup Semi-finals next month…

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scoring during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Another Hampden showdown awaits the Irishman and his squad, following a measured and controlled win over David Gray and his cohorts at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.

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Paradise was resplendent in the warm glow of a spring day in the east end of Glasgow, with 7,000 supporters from Leith also travelling through to make it a special occasion. The atmosphere was great inside the stadium and really spurred the players on at times, although Celtic totally dominated the possession and general play, it has to be said. However, Hibs did their very best to make life difficult for the Hoops and it wasn’t until injury-time when the win was sealed, thanks to Adam Idah.

Adam Idah of Celtic celebrates after scoring to give them a 2-0 lead Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Quarter Final, Celtic Park, – 09 March 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

The manager spoke post-match about professionalism and focus, but also gave his view of Man of the Match, Daizen Maeda, saying to Premier Sports: “The first goal when you see it back, his anticipation in such a tight space, and the ground he makes up over the defender to get there and read it, I think he is an amazing role model.

“If you are a young player coming through and want to give your honesty to the game, work, intensity and everything. No cheating, no nothing – even away at St Mirren, the penalty we got last week he tried to stay on his feet – he’s so honest to the game. Natural isn’t it? He’s been absolutely brilliant.”

Daizen Maeda of Celtic is seen during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan added that there is a reason he is deployed at centre-forward for Japan and also scored all those goals in the J-League before he joined the Hoops. “Listen, I can trace back to what I said, I said he can play as a striker,” he continued. “But I didn’t want him to have to. I wanted another body for depth and the games and intensity. You don’t play for Japan in a World Cup as a No9 and score the goals he has scored and for Yokohama if you can’t finish.”

Paul Gillespie