MA ED A OFFERS A QUICK REMEDY TO GET STRIKE PAL UP TO SPEED AGAIN
DAIZEN MAEDA believes an injection of pace will reignite Kyogo Furuhashi’s season.
Kyogo ended a seven-game drought in yesterday’s 2-0 win over Livingston, a goal that coincided with Maeda’s return to the starting line-up for the first time in six weeks.
Fit again after the injury sustained in the tackle that saw him red-carded in a Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, Maeda has watched Celtic and Kyogo struggle from the sidelines.
Consecutive league defeats to Kilmarnock and Hearts have whittled away the points advantage held by Brendan Rodgers’ side at the top of the table but the return of Maeda promises to add speed and energy to the Celtic attack, while Liel Abada should offer similar verve on his imminent return.
With those two operating in the wide areas, Maeda believes his fellow Japanese will start to fire again.
He said: ‘It is not just Kyogo’s fault. It is just that overall, somehow, the team has not been working well. Watching the games, the team was lacking pace and I think I can give that speed in the final third.
‘Once Kyogo starts to score, the team starts to perform well, too.’
Rodgers recently admitted that Kyogo was dropping too deep to gain possession. Under predecessor Ange Postecoglou, he could be anonymous for long stretches — often hovering offside — before springing to life as a Celtic attack developed.
The sale of Jota closed off one of the striker’s most reliable supply lines, while in the absence of Maeda and Abada, Rodgers has tried a mixture of Luis Palma, Hyun-jun Yang, Mikey Johnston and even James Forrest.
Signed from Aris Thessaloniki, Palma has impressed most and assisted for both goals yesterday.
Still settling after his move from South Korea, Yang has flattered to deceive, Forrest now looks and plays like a squad player and Johnston continues to frustrate just as much as he did when he first broke through under Rodgers six years ago.
‘I think Kyogo’s strongest point is when he’s on the blind side of centre-backs,’ continued Maeda. ‘With his quickness and agility, that’s when he’s at his best.
‘But when we’re crossing right now, it’s easy for defenders.
‘We’re trying to play to the centre of the pitch and, once we attract opponents, play wide.
‘If we go directly out wide, it will be difficult. To do what we want, we need pace to get behind defenders.
‘When the wingers eventually cross the ball, the defenders have had time to get ready for it.
‘So it’s been difficult for Kyogo. But, if I’m playing and can provide the pace, he can beat the defenders quicker. Hopefully, I can play, give him assists and he can start to score again.’