January 7, 2025

Daizen Maeda’s stock as a Celtic hero just continues to grow.

There isn’t a more infectious player than the all-action Japan winger and he could even argue that he is the most popular player amongst the Celtic supporters.

On Sunday, Celtic beat Rangers on penalties in the League Cup final, in an enthralling and action-packed game that saw six goals being scored.

Yes, the overall performance wasn’t great, but the big players stepped up in crucial moments and Maeda certainly did that.

Not only did he put the Bhoys ahead in the second half and swing the momentum of the match, but Maeda then scored the winning penalty during the shootout.

Daizen Maeda wasn’t taken off because of ‘workrate’ as Celtic beat Rangers
Andy Walker was delighted to see Maeda step up and score his spot-kick, with footage showing his family in attendance and full of joy after his winning moment.

But the former striker admitted that the 27-year-old ‘wasn’t playing particularly well’ during the match, as he told Go Radio.

However, Walker feels that the reason why Maeda lasted the whole match was because of his ‘work rate’ and ‘fitness’.

He got a goal during the game, I didn’t think he was playing particularly well,” admitted Walker. “But he was kept on, I think for his work rate and his fitness.

Walker was then reacting to Maeda stepping up for the penalty: “Now he has got his moment to win it for Celtic and his family are there. He’s got it! It’s brilliant for Maeda, he’s got the goal during the game and he has handled the pressure.

“Look at the quality of every single Celtic penalty. Absoutley magnificent. They were chasing their tail a bit. Then Schmeichel makes the save from Yilmaz and it’s Daizen Maeda who gets it. What a game.

Pitchside footage of Maeda’s winning penalty for Celtic against Rangers
Kasper Schmeichel’s penalty save deserves more limelight than it has got because it was the difference in the shootout.

Whilst Jack Butland scored his penalty, at the end of the day, his job is to save them and the Rangers shot-stopper couldn’t do it.

The simple reason is because of how precise and calm the Celtic players were with their efforts and that footage was captured pitchside by Premier Sports.

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