As the pressure builds for the Glasgow Derby and the Celtic supporters look forward to a packed Parkhead, hopes will be high that Brendan Rodgers can get the three points that will take the club one step closer to being crowned champions.
The fans watched a Celtic team on Saturday look like the team of old with excellent attacking play coupled with real determination in defence.
The 3-0 win over Hearts set Rodgers’ team up nicely for Rangers and it looked like some of our big players were certainly getting close to being back to their best.
However, one player could prove pivotal in Celtic getting those badly needed three points and former Rangers player, Andy Halliday, reckons he is the world’s best at pressing.
Halliday’s ‘genuinely’ honest Maeda admission
The now Motherwell player on loan from Hearts was speaking about his time when he faced Maeda when he was at the Tynecastle club and admits he was blown away with the defensive shift the Japanese winger put in.
Halliday said [Open Goal], “I remember we were 1-0 up at Celtic Park and we had a corner. I was on the edge of the box for the corners, like ten yards outside the box.
“The ball has dropped, someone has cleared it and I’ve run back and I kid you not, I remember thinking I’ve got loads of time here.
“I took a first touch and Maeda is right in front of my face. He tackles me, just the Red Arrows, and I was like, ‘Where has he just come from?’.
“I genuinely think he is one of the best pressers in world football.”
I’ve said it time and again on here just how big a fan I am of Maeda and how important he is to this Celtic team.
We look weaker on the left-hand side when he is not in the side and the energy and running he puts in is unmatched by anyone else at the club.
Maeda will be absolutely pivotal in helping Celtic secure a result against Rangers on Saturday. His work-rate will keep James Tavernier quiet whilst also giving the Rangers captain a lot to think about defensively.