Scottish Media make feelings clear on Trent Daizen Maeda as fans left speechless by comments after Japan 1-0 vs Scotland
Daizen Maeda stonewalls Celtic future talk as Japan hero beams with pride after his career first
The Hoops ace was handed his country’s armband for the first time as the Blue Samurai edged out Steve Clarke’s men
Daizen Maeda stonewalled talk of his Celtic future after skippering Japan to victory in Scotland.
The Hoops ace was handed his country’s armband for the first time as the Blue Samurai edged out Steve Clarke’s men 1-0 at Hampden on
The 28-year-old came close to a Celtic exit last summer after the plug was pulled on a big money move to Wolfsburg in Germany amid late chaos in the summer transfer window
Maeda has remained a key man this term with 45 appearances across all competitions – but he’s struggled to recapture last season’s goal form with just eight goals and none in his last 13 domestic games.
The attacker has been tipped for an exit but refused to answer when asked if he’d still be at Celtic after the World Cup.
Maeda did admit his pride at captaining his country – and getting the win in his adopted homeland with several top stars either missing out or on the bench.
He said: “Coach Moriyasu told me just before the match. It was the first time in my life, and I thought, ‘This is big.’
I asked him what he usually does. He gave me some pointers, but I ended up losing the coin toss, and the opponent chose the side, so I was a bit flustered at first!
“It was a valuable experience. I felt we had to play for the players who couldn’t be here today, the ones who were working hard elsewhere, and those who couldn’t make it due to injuries.
“There were eleven changes in the lineup. Among members who aren’t usually in the main squad, we managed to hold them to zero goals in the first half through persistence
Daizen Maeda, Celtic’s star forward, is basking in the glory of captaining Japan to a 1-0 win over Scotland, but he’s staying tight-lipped about his future at the club. The 28-year-old was handed the captain’s armband for the first time and led his team to victory at Hampden Park, with Junya Ito scoring the winning goal in the 84th minute ¹ ².
Maeda’s impressive performance earned him praise from fans and pundits alike, but when asked about his future at Celtic, he played it cool, saying, “I always want to improve and challenge myself at the highest level possible. Right now, I’m focused on doing my best for my club and my country. But in football, things can change quickly, so I just try to stay ready for any opportunity” ³.
The Japan international’s response has sparked speculation about his future, with some fans interpreting his words as a sign he might be open to a move away from Celtic. However, others are urging caution, pointing out that Maeda’s comments are typical of a professional athlete ³.
Maeda’s pride in captaining Japan was evident, and he admitted he was initially flustered by losing the coin toss. He also revealed he sought advice from Wataru Endo, who gave him some valuable pointers
