Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery could be forgiven for wondering if there was anything he realistically could have done to keep Celtic off the scoresheet.
In the space seven days, Brendan Rodgers’ side have beaten Hibs twice – once in the Premiership, once in the League Cup – while scoring five goals along the way.
Drop deep to stop their jet-heeled forwards running in behind, and suddenly you open up spaces for technicians Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate and the ever-improving Nicolas Kuhn to pull the strings and create at will.
But press high and, as Hibernian found out on Saturday at Parkhead, then you invite the jet-heeled Daizen Maeda to play on the shoulder and burst in behind.
Celtic ease past Hibernian thanks to Daizan Maeda
The Japanese international hit the target twice in the first 15 minutes against Montgomery’s team. Celtic cruising into the quarter-finals of the League Cup as a result.
Kuhn and Hatate combined beautifully for the opener. Maeda’s second, meanwhile, was classic Daizen Maeda. As the electrifying Kuhn lofted a through ball over the top, Celtic’s answer to Jamie Vardy burst in behind and clipped a clever finish over the advancing Hibs goalkeeper Joe Bursik.
And Kris Boyd, a prolific goalscorer in Scotland with Kilmarnock and Celtic’s Old Firm rivals Rangers, sympathises with Hibs’ predicament. Sometimes, there are just players and opposition that you simply cannot live with on top form.
“Daizen Maeda obviously plays that role for Japan,” Boyd tells the Scottish Sun. “He is going to terrorise anyone with that pace.
“Even if you try and drop deeper, you’re then looking at O’Riley, Hatate, Nicolas Kuhn, James Forrest, whoever it may be. (Luis) Palma, Callum McGregor…
“Its the same with Kyogo (Furuhashi), because Kyogo can shift as well. With the pace they’ve got, teams automatically drop and there’s a big space between the midfield and Celtic just get in.
“If you try to keep a high line against them, the ball with go over the top. (Maeda for his second goal showed his) blistering pace. Tidy finish I must add.”
Brendan Rodgers delighted as Celtic star shines in new role
The five-time Premiership Golden Boot winner is just happy he made his name as a centre-forward rather than a centre-half earning a living attempting to keep shooting stars like Maeda off the scoresheet.
“For me, if I was a defender and you’re coming up against that pace,” Boyd adds, “you would be absolutely terrified.”
A £1.6 million signing from Yokohama F Marinos during the Ange Postecoglou era, Maeda may not be the most technical or accomplished of Celtic players but he is certainly one of the most useful.
And, despite those lingering concerns over his consistency or end product, Maeda now averages around a goal-every-three games.
Not bad for a player who usually starts out wide rather than through the middle, as he did against Hibs.
“I know Daizen can play as a striker. I’ve said it before, he’s played in the World Cup as a striker, so he should be able to play for Celtic as a striker if you need him,” Rodgers tells the Daily Record, his faith in Maeda rewarded with a clinical, rapid-fire brace.
“If you look at his instinct at the goals… the first one getting to the first post to finish and then the run in behind to penetrate the space.
“(That) is what I always want in my strikers. So, I know that he can play there, but I know his best position or his favourite position is on the side.”
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