Daizen Maeda has made an incredible start to the new season for Celtic.
The 26-year-old was an unsung hero under Ange Postecoglou and that has now continued with Brendan Rodgers in the dugout.
Maeda has scored four goals and supplied two assists in all competitions this season, including helping Celtic thrash Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.
In those big games, you can back Maeda to step up and be reliable, with James Tavernier still having nightmares.
Celtic have the best backline in the league and some of the best individual players, including hard-hitting centre-back, Cameron-Carter Vickers.
But their work is made far easier because of what Maeda does further up the pitch and how he puts fear into the eyes of the opposition.
Barry Ferguson thinks the Japan star ‘panics defenders’ because he simply doesn’t stop working and forces them into mistakes.
The former midfielder labelled the versatile Bhoys star as ‘phenomenal’ and how he even showcased the end product in the Champions League, as he told Go Radio.
Maeda is one of the fastest players in Europe and that makes him even more difficult to play against.
Daizen Maeda fear
“See when he is pressing defenders, he panics defenders into making mistakes,” said Ferguson. “Defenders don’t like getting pressed. I am a big believer, in the successful teams I played in, it did start at the front. The front three were key to starting the press and he certainly does it.
“He’s a machine, no doubt about it. His end product could be better, but then you watch the game on Wednesday night, and his finish, was a good finish. It was a difficult finish. He tells you it’s in there.
“But, in terms of his work rate, it’s phenomenal.
Celtic v Falkirk
From the Champions League to Scottish League Cup action on Sunday, with Celtic welcoming Falkirk to Parkhead for a place in the last four.
You suspect, after what the starting players gave in midweek, they will be rotated, especially with Rodgers needing to manage his players for the Borussia Dortmund clash in a few weeks.
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Celtic have won the Treble under Rodgers before, and the way the team are looking and have started the season, you can see the same happening again.
No matter who the opposition is, the team have shown no respect and started to steamroll the opposition from the off and you suspect Falkirk to get the same treatment.
