Daizen Maeda has spoken out on his Celtic career in an interview after reaching 200 appearances for the Hoops. Since joining in January 2022, the winger has made a massive impact in multiple seasons.
Speaking to Celtic TV, Maeda said:
"To be honest, I never imagined that I would play this long overseas and make so many appearances for one club. So, I feel very proud of myself.
I actually had no idea [I was on 200 appearances]. Somebody told me, ‘You’re actually at 200.’ That’s when I found out for the first time.
My family has supported me throughout this journey, and without their support, I don’t think I would have been able to perform well here, score goals, and play so many matches. I am really grateful for them."
Speaking about the club itself, Maeda said:
"Celtic is a much bigger club than many people imagine. There is a lot of attention and pressure around the club, and it is very difficult to keep playing regularly, so you need to come with strong determination, not just for Celtic, but to compete in world football. I hope young players will take on that challenge with the right mindset."
It's been a blast
Maeda is a player who was a fan favourite at Celtic for a long time, and he still is. It seems as though the player may leave in the summer for a new challenge, and it'll be sad to see him go.
He's been a brilliant asset to the club, but this season, his performances have fallen off. He has fallen under a lot of criticism, but he has still managed to perform decently in big games such as the Glasgow derby. His pace has always been a threat against Rangers, and that hasn't changed all these years later.
During his time at the club, Maeda has scored 70 goals and has 36 assists. That makes 106 goal contributions in total, which is incredibly impressive. Not only has he been a brilliant option on the wing, but he has also been able to slot in at striker when required. He has always put his all in when called upon, even nowadays when he isn't fully in form.
He deserves a move away from the club as he has been a great servant. Last year, he was ready to leave on a £10 million transfer to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, but the transfer was cancelled at the last minute, and the winger was kept for cover.
It is respectable that the player continued to impress for the Celts despite losing out on a promising transfer, and hopefully, he can finally get the move he desires at the end of the season.