Jeffrey Schlupp and Reo Hatate react to Daizen Maeda message at Celtic
Celtic players have reacted to Daizen Maeda’s post on social media following their impressive 5-0 victory over Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup.
Celtic comfortably triumphed over the Scottish Championship side on 8 February, with Maeda scoring a sensational hat-trick. Luke McCowan and Yang Hyun-Jun also added their names to the scoresheet in a dominant performance.
Brendan Rodgers‘ side continued their strong run in the competition, unlike their rivals Rangers, who were shockingly knocked out by Queen’s Park. Rangers coach Philippe Clement is now under mounting pressure, with fans calling for his dismissal following the disappointing result.
In contrast, Celtic easily progressed to the next round, and Maeda’s performance was a standout moment of the match. Several of his teammates showed their support for the forward’s post, celebrating his incredible hat-trick and the team’s success in what was a commanding display.
Daizen Maeda marks milestone at Celtic
Rodgers expressed frustration with the lack of Celtic transfer activity during the winter window, but his rotated squad still managed to secure progression to the next round.
Hat-trick hero Maeda took to Instagram after the win to announce he had scored his his Hoops half-century. He wrote, “50th goal for Celtic. Thank you for your support!”
Teammates Reo Hatate and Greg Taylor showed their appreciation with heart emojis, while new signing Jeffrey Schlupp also posted fire emojis in support. Schlupp joined Celtic late in the January window and has already made a few appearances in his short time at the club.
Celtic now set their sights on domestic treble under Rodgers
Football Insider Verdict
With their bitter rivals Rangers eliminated early from the competition, Celtic now see the domestic treble as an attainable goal. The Hoops previously defeated the Gers in a controversial Scottish League Cup final, winning on penalties, and they currently sit 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership.
Maeda has been a key player since joining the club, and his contributions this season continue to be crucial. The Japanese forward has scored 21 goals and provided eight assists in 34 appearances. Though he has started 19 league matches this season, he’s also proven to be an important asset in other competitions.
Celtic’s squad depth is also growing stronger with fan favourite Jota’s return, allowing for rotation in the team. Now, all attention shifts to the Champions League, where they will face a tough task against Bayern Munich at Celtic Park.