Celtic's quiet 'machine' Maeda key to toppling Bayern
Champions League play-off first leg: Celtic v Bayern Munich
When: Wednesday, 12 February Where: Celtic Park, Glasgow. Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Sounds, text updates on BBC Sport app & website, highlights on BBC One & iPlayer
A quick scan of Celtic forward Daizen Maeda's social media accounts tells you two things abut him. He loves football. And he loves his family. That's it.
His endearingly short interviews in English, and even his native Japanese, give the impression he is a quiet, understated man.
Those who know him best might say differently, but to the outside world that's how it seems.
His compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi often took the headlines at Celtic, before his departure last month for Rennes, due his knack of scoring big goals, and lots of them.
But coaches have described Maeda as a "machine" and a "physical beast" for his seemingly unlimited stamina, and now he is having the best season of his Celtic career, scoring 21 goals so far.
There is a reason the news he can now play against Bayern Munich, after his two-game ban was reduced on appeal, was greeted with unbridled joy among Celtic fans.
Maeda's presence increases their chances of toppling the German giants in the Champions League, no matter how small people think those chances are.
The 'world's best' at pressing defenders
After Celtic opened their Champions League campaign with a thumping 5-1 win against Slovan Bratislava, manager Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on Maeda.
Former Celtic and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart had used a clip of the 27-year-old thwarting a Slovan counter-attack on BBC Sport's Champions League highlights programme.
Maeda hounded Slovan's right-back and centre-back, winning possession.
Rodgers cited that moment and said he doubted "there's anyone better in world football" at setting the tone from the front.
There are numerous examples of the Celtic forward doing just that.
In the League Cup final this season, he ran down Rangers defender Leon Balogun, stole the ball and ran through to score.
Strangely, the moment which sums up his attitude and speed came near the end of a 6-0 drubbing of St Johnstone in September, when Celtic lost the ball in the final third and he sprinted nearly the length of the pitch to win it back with the game long since won.
At the time, Rodgers applauded it on the touchline as much as any goal.
His former coach at Yokohama F Marinos John Hutchinson knew exactly what was coming when Ange Postecoglou recruited him from his old club.
"I have never seen a more physical player, in terms of speed and repeat sprinting, than Daizen," he said in 2022.
"Daizen is a physical beast. You'd have no issues sending him anywhere in Europe because it won't be a problem to him. He's a machine."
According to Opta data only fellow winger Nicolas Kuhn has put more pressure on defenders than Maeda in Celtic's Champions League games this season, which underlines both players' significant role without the ball, as well as with it.
"He does all the things that you don't need talent for to the highest level: all the running, the pressing," Rodgers said before the Bayern clash.
"His will to run and run and run is absolutely incredible and I haven't worked with too many like that.
"He keeps continuing to grow and develop and now you see his composure when he's in front of goal, scoring all types of goals. I'm just very, very pleased that he's with us."
More goals make Maeda 'really special'
Maeda's hat-trick against Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup at the weekend took his tally for the season to 21, his most productive in Scotland to date.
Not bad for a player who has played out wide for most of the season.
Three of those goals have come in the Champions League, including a brilliant curling effort to snatch a critical point against Club Brugge.
Finishing was always a criticism of Maeda. Not that he lacked the ability to score good goals, but that he was guilty of some glaring misses.
But this season his shot conversion rate has gone up from 13% to 22% in the Scottish Premiership, and his strikes have come in all different forms.
Against Rovers he was so sharp in the penalty box for his hat-trick, but against Dundee last week he scored a sublime chip.
"Not only is he working really hard and using his energy and pace - but it looks as though any chance that comes to him he could put it in the back of the net," former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner said on BBC Scotland's Sportsound.
With that in mind, Rodgers now has a decision to make for the visit of Bayern. Should Maeda play as the central striker, with Kyogo now gone and no direct replacement brought in?
Adam Idah did well up front in their last European outing, scoring twice in the 4-2 defeat by Aston Villa, but Maeda's form is hard to ignore.
"I've said before, he can play as a striker," the Rodgers said after Maeda's hat-trick.
"If you look back and see his goals when he was at Yokohama, the various types of goals he scored, that's why he can play as a striker.
"His contribution without the ball is sensational. It maintains the values of our team and our idea of work because ultimately that's what the game boils down to, that work ethic, that mentality.
"Then you add his qualities to that - he's a really special player."
After his kick out late on against Young Boys earned him a red card in Celtic's penultimate league phase match, Maeda took to social media to apologise to Celtic fans.
"I'm really sorry for causing trouble to the team in such a wonderful atmosphere," he posted on X.
There were plenty of responses which were along the lines of: 'Do whatever you like, pal,' which suggests how plenty feel about him and his performances.
Likewise, rare glimpses of him away from playing endear him to supporters and are making him a much-loved figure.
Whether it was having his young children as mascots before last week's game, or his recent short cameo appearances in interviews alongside team-mates.
Even ditching his previous routine of shaving his head before matches to grow his hair - apparently to appease his daughter who said she did not like him being bald - has added to the hero status.
Maeda is now front and centre at Celtic, and with Bayern Munich coming to town there is a huge opportunity to underline his status on the pitch with more big moments.
