Former boss overlooks Kuhn and Maeda in his Celtic Player of the Year choice

The Celtic Star

·16 de março de 2025

Former boss overlooks Kuhn and Maeda in his Celtic Player of the Year choice

A couple of interviews with former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan this morning, starting with his thoughts on Shunsuke Nakamura, the Celtic talisman during his time in charge which delivered three titles in his four years as Celtic manager.

The Celtic Star’s Shunsuke Nakamura screensaver.

Vídeos OneFootball

Gordon Strachan, who was speaking to makthavare.se also names Celtic’s performance against Bayern Munich as his highlight of the season so far and on his Player of the Year he looks past both Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn to opt instead for a Celtic defender. On Kuhn he talks about pending transfer interest in the flying German winger but insists that it would take an offer of at least £30million before Celtic would consider parting with the player at this stage.

Photo:imago AFLOSPORTShunsuke Nakamura, Glasgow Celtic

Next up Gordon Strachan’s thoughts on today’s Glasgow Derby where Celtic can go 19 points clear and take a giant step closer to a 13th title in 14 season, a remarkable tally especially considering that the one that was lost was in freakish circumstances caused by a global pandemic where no supporters were permitted. If you are going to lose one best be that one.

Celtic Glasgow’s Shunsuke Nakamura. ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images)

Q: What did Nakamura’s presence do for the club?

Gordon Strachan: “What a player. The standards he set were just phenomenal at the club. You know, going back to what was said about Man United, this guy set standards and the kids all decided, right, I’m going to do what this fella’s doing. Literally, That’s it, that’s it.

Nicolas Kuehn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Q: What would be your highlight of the season for Celtic?

Gordon Strachan: The Bayern Munich performance. Because I’ve seen Celtic getting good results, away from home in Europe and doing well, to a certain extent against top clubs. It’s usually when the goalie’s pulling out great saves and backs to the wall stuff. I actually thought against a great Bayern Munich side, they looked comfortable all the way through. I know there’s times when they were under pressure with a couple of shots, I get that.

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

“But I think nothing spooked them that game. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen that they felt like they could play the team as equals. There wasn’t as much high pressing as they normally do. They might have tried it, but if not, they had another plan where they went to their own third. And they had enough pace to counter-attack. And when they did get the ball back, I thought they were really comfortable. Everybody in the team was really comfortable with it. It’s so important if you want to be a top side.”

Q: Who would you consider to be Celtic’s standout player this season?

Alistair Johnston. Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Gordon Strachan: “I would go for Alistair Johnston, the right back. I think he’s been outstanding, and whoever plays out on the right-hand side should get down on their bended knees and thank whatever god they believe in, that this guy’s behind them because he’s making them a better player. He’s prepared to run 40 yards to give somebody two yards of space. That is fantastic.”

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)

Q: Do Celtic need to worry about being a selling club?

Gordon Strachan: “There was years ago when there was a bit about losing Edouard and others. As much as they’ve won, Celtic will always find heroes. But they have new stars to replace the outgoing players, and you’ve got Maeda and Kuhn. There’s so many coming in and that’s what happens at Celtic. There’s always new heroes.”

Nicolas Kuhn with the Premier Sports Cup after Celtic’s victory over theRangers on 15 December 2024 at Hampden Park. Photo Kenny Ramsay

Q: Nicolas Kuhn has been linked to Newcastle United ahead of the summer. Can he play for that calibre of club and what fee could Celtic demand?

Gordon Strachan: “They won’t sell at any price. They’ll wait until it makes sense. At £30 million they might say alright, let’s sell. They went big time on Arne Engels, so they have spent. They have probably spent the most they’re willing to so far with Rodgers, because if something goes wrong, they want to be secure.

“Somebody was saying that Celtic have got X amount of money more than theRangers, but it took 20 years to get that pot of money. It’s been hard work for the organisation all the way down. They have earned every right, Celtic. I’m not sure how much it would take, but there’s definitely a premium for attacking players. But this is probably how Celtic signed Kuhn. They’d say come for us, play for us, make us successful and have a look at all the players that we have sold on. Do you want to be one of them?

Gordon Strachan and coach Neil Lennon celebrate a Celtic goal against Rangers

“Now, and if it happens, people shouldn’t tell him he should stay with us. They kind of promise them that they can be a stepping stone to where they next want to be in life. If you want to stay, magnificent, of course. And that’s been Celtic’s mantra now for 20 years.”

Q: Away fans are going to be present for the first time since 2023. Are you pleased that the two clubs were able to find an agreement on the allocation?

Scotland’s Shame at theRangers vs Fenerbahçe, Ibrox, Europea League, 13 March 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Gordon Strachan: “I know everybody wants it, but I wasn’t sure I quite enjoyed the atmosphere with the nastiness that comes, because I wanted to promote the Scottish game throughout the world. There’s no doubt about it. There’s a nastiness. And it’s funny, I went to the World Cup. It was Argentina versus somebody. And I was sitting with Gus Poyet, and the atmosphere was fantastic. I told Poyet, ‘This is great, isn’t it?’ And Poyet told me, ‘What they’re saying is absolutely horrendous.’

Scotland’s Shame at theRangers vs Fenerbahçe, Ibrox, Europea League, 13 March 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

“I just worry about that kind of thing, the violence. I’m a softer kind of person than the rest-of-Scotland person and I don’t think you need it. A bit of colour, I’ve got it. If I’m a fan, my first objective is to go to the game with my family and feel safe. So, I’ve got a bit of concern about that.”

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27 August 2000: Henrik Larsson celebrates during the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport