Celtic forward Daizen Maeda is at an interesting crossroads in his career. He’s looking to rediscover his best after the club rejected a move for him in the summer when they weren’t able to get an acceptable replacement. Last season, Maeda showcased his talent by scoring 33 goals, but recent performances have raised concerns about his current state. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says he has no doubt that Maeda will regain his best. He emphasizes that thinking is the most important part of this return.
The 26-year-old Japanese international recently played in a UEFA Europa League match against FK Crvena Zvezda on September 24, 2025, in Belgrade, Serbia. He had a hard time adjusting to the center-forward spot and was pulled at half-time. In an interview after the game, Rodgers remarked of Maeda that he clearly “wasn’t at his best, or anywhere near it.” Even with this unfortunate history, the Twins’ new manager Rocco Baldelli has shown a belief that Maeda has a chance to rebound.
Rodgers put a spotlight on the issues that players are going through in hard times. He said, “You can’t underestimate how difficult it’s been for him.” The frustrated coach made the observation that even when an athlete shows up and tries their best, subconscious things can prevent them from playing their best. He added that Maeda’s commitment to Celtic has been unwavering, saying, “This is a guy who has given absolutely everything for this football club.”
Maeda’s long-term future at the club is uncertain. He was reportedly connected with a summer window transfer, but ultimately, he re-upped and returned to Celtic. His inability to bring in a replacement has put him, and more importantly the Football Club, under huge pressure to deliver an improvement on the pitch. Rodgers advised Maeda to avoid falling into a negative mindset, remarking, “It’s so important that you don’t get caught up in this sort of mentality of ‘it’s not fair,’ because when you get caught in that, it’s very dangerous territory.”
Maeda has had a tough go on the pitch. As if that wasn’t enough, an ongoing ankle injury has compounded his issues. Despite all of this, Rodgers is hopeful that Maeda can still have a positive impact going forward. “I’m very confident that he will get back to the level,” he stated. The manager emphasized the significance of having a long-term commitment to the club, noting that “if he was here and committed for four or five years… you can still have dips in your form.”
Celtic continue preparations for their Scottish Premiership match-up with Hibernian this Saturday. As you can tell, everyone will be watching Maeda as the excitement unfolds! His capacity to steer through this difficult time will be critical for his legacy. Yet it will be just as important to the team’s success in the long run.
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