Another disasterclass from Celtic under Wilfried Nancy.
This time, it involved Celtic losing to Motherwell on Tuesday night and ending 2025 in a horror manner, as Daizen Maeda was hooked off at half-time by his manager.
Maeda played down the middle against Motherwell, and he produced another woeful display, as Pat Bonner noticed some worrying signs about Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year, who has had a very indifferent campaign, to say the least.
Pat Bonner notes worrying Daizen Maeda situation ahead of Celtic’s clash against Rangers
Everyone is aware that Maeda wanted to leave in the summer, but Celtic didn’t open the door, and he stayed put.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Bonner expressed how ‘unhappy’ Maeda looked against Motherwell, and he played like someone who is saying, ‘I am not having it.’
These are pretty worrying signs, and it’s the last thing Celtic need ahead of their clash against Rangers on Saturday lunchtime.
“Just on Maeda,” said Bonner. “Maeda played through the centre against Motherwell. He didn’t look happy at all.
Any ball that was played up to him, he lost it. There was never a ball played that he could run onto. Where is his strength?
“His strength is out on the left-hand side where he can make runs in behind. He can come in off the left-hand side and get into some great runs.
“If you look at the previous two or three games. They destroyed teams down the left-hand side because of his runs. His movement, and so on.
“Against Motherwell, he was up front, and he looked as if, ‘I am not having it.’ And he was off at half-time. He might be injured. He might be sick. There has to be a reason why they bring him off at half-time.
“For me, he just doesn’t look happy at all.
Should Maeda start for Celtic against Rangers?
One thing you can’t argue is the fact that Maeda has a very strong record against Rangers, and more often than not, he produces.
The issue here is that Celtic are in a woeful state under Nancy, having lost five games under his stewardship, and the Frenchman has just hooked one of his senior players at half-time.
And if Maeda is going to sulk, like Bonner thinks he did at Fir Park, then there is no point in even putting players like that on the bench.
But if Celtic are to get out of this mess, they need players like Maeda at his very best, and the only way that happens is out on the pitch, so he has to start, preferably, down the left-hand side.
Maeda’s games against Rangers: 22
Wins: 13
Draws: 5
Losses: 4
Goals scored: 5
Assists: 5