Celtic player wants to draw Real Madrid again for one reason

Celtic faced Real Madrid in a couple of memorable games last season. In the first half of the Parkhead match, the Hoops were certainly the better side and should have gone into the break a couple of goals up, if they had taken their chances. At the end of the night, that ended up costing them, as they lost 3-0.

In the away leg at Santiago Bernabeu, Jota scored a beautiful free-kick. But once again, it was a heavy loss for Celtic as the scoreline read 5-1 in favour of Real Madrid.

Of course, such games are always glamour fixtures but very difficult to win. Celtic did not manage a single victory in the six group stage matches they played in the Champions League last season.

Yet, it looks like Daizen Maeda wants the club to draw Real Madrid again in order to show the progress they have made as a team since then. As reported by The National, he said:

"“I do think about playing Real Madrid again.“Not for revenge, but to show that any team that comes up to the Champions League is strong and that we can get wins and show we are a different team. I want us to demonstrate that.”"

Celtic player wants to draw Real Madrid again for one reason

Of course, that is a very positive attitude to have. But at the same time, it is important to recognise that Celtic do not seem to have improved in any aspect since last season.

On the contrary, it appears that they have taken several steps back over the summer. The likes of Jota and Carl Starfelt have left while Aaron Mooy retired. And the biggest loss was perhaps the departure of Ange Postecoglou.

The majority of this squad was assembled by Postecoglou and they seem to be struggling to come to grips to Brendan Rodgers’ system at the start of the season. That perhaps should have been expected. The results have left a lot of people disappointed and worried about what is to come in this campaign. And at the moment, it is hard to see this Celtic side even laying a glove on Real Madrid.