Sport
Celtic fans stunned as Brendan Rodgers opens up about Daizen Maeda deal plea from Dermot Desmond ‘he deserves… See more
Rodgers wants to reward the in-form striker and has escalated negotiations with Parkhead manager Desmond.
Brendan Rodgers believes Daizen Maeda’s enhanced deal at Celtic is well-deserved.
This season, the Japanese attacker has been an inspiration for the champs, scoring an impressive 28 goals. Maeda is a top contender for this term’s Player of the Year Awards due to his impressive scoring and assist figures, as well as his hard work and dedication.
Rodgers has discussed extending his current deal with majority stakeholder Dermot Desmond, which runs until 2027. He enjoys his Asian cuisine.
The manager says his value is obvious and backs the moves to tie Maeda down as he said: “Absolutely, if there is that possibility to do that.
“There’s absolutely no doubt, he earns every penny and we feel as a club he deserves more, so we want to do that. But, of course it has to work both ways.
“I’ve spoken with Dermot and the club and spoken with the player and, hopefully in the future, that is something that can be done.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant for us this season. Wherever he’s played, however he’s played, he’s had an amazing season. So of course, you would love to tie up one of your best players.”
Rodgers has seen players leave in the past to join bigger leagues with Maeda’s countryman Kyogo Furuhashi heading out to France in January.
Asked if he got the feeling the in-form star wants to stay, he said: “He doesn’t give away much, other than saying he’s very happy. I look and see how he plays, but, listen, I’m also under no illusions here that there’s very few players that are going to do what Callum MacGregor does and some of these players, they have a lifetime here, Jamesy Forest.
“But all I can do is judge when he’s here, he’s been brilliant here, he’s still contracted well here to the club, but, of course, there has been chats around improving that for him because he’s grown into one of the top players here.”
Maeda is adored by the Celtic faithful and Rodgers continued: “Sometimes you don’t realise that until you’re gone, sadly. I think we’ve seen it.
“Also, what I know from my own personal experience in moving away is that you sometimes will feel you’re going to a better league, or better wages, or whatever it is, but the adulation you get as a Celtic player is unrivalled.
“What they feel when they’re here, very, very many of them don’t ever get that again and that’s part of the loss if you go away.
“You’ll earn more money, you’ll play in maybe a top league, but you don’t quite get that feeling that you would get here and sometimes, like I say, you don’t know that as a player until you’ve gone.
“But at this moment in time, I’m so happy he is here and he’s consistently playing so well. Hopefully, he can finish off a great season for him and the team and finish well.”
Defeat to Rangers in the last game before the international break was a painful one for the Celtic boss, but he says the debrief is done and it’s now time to kick for home in the finishing straight with a domestic Treble on the line.
Rodgers said: “Obviously, when you lose a derby game like that, and especially the manner at the end, the disappointment lingers on a little bit longer.
“Eight games to go, possibly two games in the Cup. So a maximum 10 games. Now we’re ready for the final push and we’re in a really good place.
“Of course there’s always disappointment when you lose one of those games and then you have to bounce back.
“But we didn’t and credit to Rangers because they did. They got 2-0 up and then we had to bounce back. But from that second half, we shouldn’t lose the game. It’s as simple as that.
“It’s understanding the disappointment. We all get it and I felt it as well. It lingered for me longer than any defeat does.
“But then the job is to lead and now the job is to bounce back. And that’s what this club has been brilliant at.
