Maeda and Tierney’s Celtic link up can improve says Brendan | OneFootball

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that there is more to come from Kieran Tierney and Daizen Maeda after the pair linked up for the opener on Friday. Speaking after the game, the Irishman said that there was work to be done despite some impressive moments.

Rodgers was asked after the game how pleased he was with the linkup from KT and Maeda, insisting that there was more to come from the left-sided duo.

“Yeah, I think there’s still a lot of work for them to do. I think they became sometimes a little predictable on that side, where we were constantly crossing it. We want to cross it, of course, but we need to vary it, but that will come.

“I thought Kieran was outstanding in the game. You can see him each game, his dominance, and it gives us that real security when we haven’t got the ball. But he’s going to get even better as his fitness develops.

“And obviously, it’s a different player for Daizen to connect with because Kieran will at times be wider. So that means he has to move inside, whereas Greg was very much on the inside, playing out to Daizen.

“But no, I thought that through the team, the connections were really good and it was good to see both of those boys playing well and getting that understanding.”

Tierney and Maeda have linked up well on the whole but there have been a few occasions that they appear to be taking up the same space and passes have not quite come off. It is, as the manager says, early days and there will be a lot of improvement between two class players as they work together.

There is an argument that Maeda may be better switching into the centre of the Celtic frontline, which would allow Tierney to get forward and swing crosses in. The hesitancy in doing this appears to be Celtic’s lack of transfer business in the last few weeks. It remains to be seen whether Rodgers returns Daizen to the central role or if he sees the Japanese internationalist as a winger.