Yahoo News Brendan Rodgers names Daizen Maeda attribute where Celtic star has no equal in WORLD football
Brendan Rodgers insists that no one in WORLD FOOTBALL can match Daizen Maeda's ability and desire to go and press the ball.
The Japan star was on the scoresheet in Celtic's 5-1 hammering of Slovan Bratislava in their Champions League opener on Wednesday, taking his tally to four goals and two assists in all competitions so far this season. And towards the end of the tie, the 26-year-old once again demonstrated his willingness to help the team out of possession, making a superb run to press the opposition and win the ball back for Rodgers' men.
The Irishman made reference to the clip and believes that Maeda is the best on the planet at pressing from the front. Speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter final clash with Falkirk, he said: "I would doubt there is anyone better in world football than Daizen Maeda in that context.
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"I watched an image towards the end of the game and if you see a certain angle of the clip he is making a recovery run into the left-back position tracking their right back and thinking the ball is come across. But then the ball instead goes to the centre half and he (Maeda) presses it and nicks it and is away. Even if you can do that, it is the will and desire to actually do that.
"Most players won't have that. He could have easily dropped that press and not do that one. That was the one that was important and he went, realised it wasn't getting there and actually got to the centre half before the guy who should have got there. It was incredible, unbelievable pressing but that (is his) mentality."
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