BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers during a Celtic press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park , on January 28, 2025, in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
There was one headline from the pre-match media conference for Celtic’s Champions League Play Off against Bayern Munich.
At the weekend Brendan Rodgers was trying to find a way of replacing Daizen Maeda, his on-form forward with six goals in his three previous appearances.
A reckless red card in the closing stages of the Champions League victory over YB Bern had come with a hefty price, not only would Maeda miss the final group match at Aston Villa but an additional punishment meant that he’d have to sit out a further match.
With Kyogo Furuhashi sold to Rennes it was a double blow to be without Maeda but at 8.30 pm on Monday, 48 hours before kick-off time Celtic announced that they had successfully appealed against the second match of the suspension.
He’s an extraordinary player. I think how he’s been this year for us, not just with goals but what his value gives to the team in terms of his pressing and his honesty to the game. So, to have that mentality and that ability available was a big surprise, but a nice surprise.
Rodgers joked about the late nature of the reprieve, commenting that he had used him for every minute of the last three matches since he wasn’t expected to be available to face Bayern.
Kasper Schmeichel was back in training today meaning that James Forrest is the only top team player missing for tomorrow’s match.
Kyogo, Luis Palma and Stephen Welsh have dropped out of the squad with Jota, Jeffrey Schluup and Johnny Kenny added to the UEFA squad.
MEIDA AVAILABLE MAKES MEDIA SICK !!!