Celtic's Front Three Dilemma: Maeda's Role in Recent Matches
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is currently facing a challenge in selecting his starting front three.
This situation contrasts sharply with previous seasons, where players like Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Liel Abada had secure positions in the lineup.
The reigning champions are still in search of the right balance within their current squad.
Kelechi Iheanacho has made a significant impact since his arrival after the transfer window, earning a starting position as striker in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Hibernian.
Daizen Maeda also played through the middle during the 1-1 Europa League draw against Red Star Belgrade earlier in the week. However, after a lackluster performance, the Japanese international was substituted at halftime, with Iheanacho stepping in to score and serve as a positive focal point for the attack.
As Iheanacho's match fitness and confidence continue to improve, the challenge for Rodgers is to effectively structure the two wide positions around him to maximize their impact against a resilient Hibernian defense.
Rodgers opted to position Maeda, who was highly effective on the left last season, on the right side, while Sebastian Tounekti retained his role on the left.
Maeda's Current Standing After Summer Transfers
Following Kyogo's departure in January, Maeda excelled in the main striker role, netting an impressive 33 goals last season and earning multiple player of the year awards.
This season, however, he has not replicated that form, partly due to his anticipation of a potential move to another club.
This expectation appears to have affected both his performance and Celtic's recruitment strategy. The signings of left-sided players Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha suggest the club was preparing for Maeda's possible exit.
Tounekti has quickly made the left-wing position his own, where Maeda has typically thrived, while Balikwisha has struggled to make an impact, particularly during his stint on the right against Kilmarnock.
The right side seems less populated, with only Yang Hyun-Jun and veteran James Forrest considered for that role. With Iheanacho's arrival reducing the necessity for Maeda to play as a striker, he was tasked with the right-wing position on Saturday.
Before the match, Rodgers clarified to BBC Scotland that Yang's absence against Hibs was not due to injury; instead, he opted for a second striker, Johnny Kenny, on the bench, anticipating that Iheanacho might not complete the full 90 minutes.
With Maeda starting and Forrest filling the wide-right role, Rodgers' preferred structure places Tounekti on the left, at least until Jota returns from injury to compete for that position.
Yang may struggle to find playing time, and Balikwisha's prospects appear similarly dim at this point. Thus, Maeda steps in once again to address a gap in Celtic's lineup, showcasing his versatility.
Evaluating Maeda's Performance on the Right
The immediate conclusion may be negative, given that Celtic failed to score. However, they created enough chances to secure a victory, and Rodgers expressed satisfaction with the overall performance, acknowledging Hibs' strong defensive display.
"I think every metric in the game showed we were dominant," he stated. "Our football was quite good, and we transitioned well through the pitch, but we simply lacked that killer instinct in the box."
Celtic was occasionally unlucky, with Iheanacho and the impressive Marcelo Saracchi both hitting the crossbar in the first half. Maeda assisted one of those efforts with an excellent display of pace and precision.
On another day, the home side would have found the net at least once, as their expected goals (xG) of 3 indicates.
Former Celtic midfielder John Collins remarked that Maeda has not yet returned to his peak form since expressing a desire to leave last month. "I don't think you should ever make that public; it can be a risky move," Collins commented on Sportsound.
"The reality is that he has been a tremendous asset for Celtic, enjoying an incredible season last year, but in football, it's all about the present. What you did last week means nothing, and Celtic fans expect 100% commitment on the pitch. To be fair, he has consistently given that, but he seems a bit worn out."
Celtic registered 26 shots against Hibs, reflecting their dominance, yet only six were on target. Iheanacho did find the net but was ruled offside.
It is concerning that, despite hitting the woodwork, it took until the 39th minute for the home side to register a shot on target. They have been unusually ineffective in front of goal, with only one of their eight Premiership goals scored in the first half of their six league matches thus far. Rodgers is aware that he needs to enhance the quality in forward positions. While he has gained some of that with Iheanacho, it appears that Maeda will find himself on the right side after feeling overlooked for a potential transfer.