Celtic forward claims he is happy to play as a defender

Several players have improved since Brendan Rodgers' first season back as manager. Celtic have transformed into a much better team over the offseason. Do not let the result against Borussia Dortmund distract you from the fact that this team has won every other match and most of them comfortably, only conceding one goal in league competition so far and that too from the penalty spot.

One of the players who has been key to Celtic's early season success is Daizen Maeda. The Japanese international looks more efficient than he ever has for the Hoops since arriving in the winter of 2022.

According to stats from Transfermarkt, he has scored 6 goals and provided 2 assists in 9 appearances. An excellent return for the hardworking winger.

But that has not stopped the Japan national team manager from experimenting with Maeda's position. He has been deployed as a wing-back at the international level recently.

Celtic forward claims he is happy to play as a defender

Maeda is all about the team though and he insists that he is happy to play the role of a wing-back. As reported by the Daily Record, the Celtic player said:

"I personally think that when we play three defenders at the back as we are doing now, I am most happy as a wing back. I prefer being out wider than in the middle.

"I think my strengths are my ability to push forward and drop back too, so I think that's where I'm at my best. And being able to play in many different positions will broaden my horizons as a player and as a team, so I want to play well in the position I'm asked to play.

"I enjoy pushing forward, but I want to help the team as much as possible and I am quite happy to drop back and defend when needed. I try to keep a good balance and I like to think I can recover quickly because of my pace. My aim is to continue to play for my national team for as long as possible and I am happy playing anywhere."

On paper, it is not hard to see how Maeda playing as a wing-back would work. He is used to playing on the flanks already and it is just a matter of dropping a bit deeper when it comes to the defensive phase of play and being a bit more disciplined with his positioning going forward.

He possesses the work ethic to do the defensive side of the game quite well. That being said, Japan might be missing his qualities while going forward. After all, Maeda has mostly played as a striker for his national team, even scoring against Croatia in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.