Daizen Maeda brushed aside speculation about his Celtic F.C. future after leading Japan national football team to victory over Scotland national football team.
The Celtic forward wore his nation’s captain’s armband for the first time as the Blue Samurai secured a narrow 1-0 win against Steve Clarke’s side at Hampden on Saturday.
Speaking to Japanese reporters after the match, Maeda declined to comment on his situation at Parkhead when questioned by members of the Scottish press.
The 28-year-old had been on the verge of leaving Celtic last summer, with a lucrative transfer to VfL Wolfsburg collapsing late in the transfer window amid last-minute complications.
Despite remaining an important figure this season with 45 appearances in all competitions, Maeda has found it difficult to match last year’s scoring levels, managing just eight goals and failing to score in his last 13 domestic outings.
Although rumors have suggested he could move on, the attacker avoided addressing whether he would still be at Celtic beyond the World Cup.
Maeda did, however, speak of his honour at captaining his country and helping secure a win on familiar Scottish soil, particularly with several key players absent or not starting.
He said: “Coach Moriyasu told me just before the match. It was the first time in my life, and I thought, ‘This is big.’
I asked him what he usually does. He gave me some pointers, but I ended up losing the coin toss, and the opponent chose the side, so I was a bit flustered at first!
“It was a valuable experience. I felt we had to play for the players who couldn’t be here today, the ones who were working hard elsewhere, and those who couldn’t make it due to injuries.
“There were eleven changes in the lineup. Among members who aren’t usually in the main squad, we managed to hold them to zero goals in the first half through persistence.”