Celtic were part of an uneventful first half against Red Star Belgrade.
It very much felt like two sides cancelling each other out – but crucially, it felt like if Brendan Rodgers could get the second half right, the Serbians were there for the taking.
Daizen Maeda was one of several members of Rodgers’ team who weren’t quite doing the business in terms of testing the Red Star defence.
This led the Hoops boss to take the proactive decision to take the Japanese forward off at the break – despite resting him at Firhill on Sunday.
Speaking after the match, the Hoops boss lifted the lid on the half-time change.
Brendan Rodgers on substituting Daizen Maeda at half-time
Rodgers facilitated the arrival of Kelechi Iheanacho after the closure after the transfer window, familiar with the Nigerian forward from his time at Leicester.
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Photo by PREDRAG MILOSAVLJEVIC/AFP via Getty Images
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Rodgers made his thought process on his decision clear.
He said: “We needed someone centrally to hold the ball up. I felt that we arrived into the final third in the first half, and we were either loose with the ball, or didn’t hold the ball up.
“It’s one of Kels’ great strengths, is that he can take the ball in, he can use his body well and obviously that allows you to progress the ball up the pitch. So he gave us a really much better platform in the second half.
“[Daizen] wasn’t at his best, or nowhere near it. But he’s a good guy. Sometimes that happens in the game. I could’ve made a couple of changes at half time.
“That gave us that greater reference at the top of the pitch. I thought Kels came in and was really good for us.”
It certainly raises questions about the side’s forward options and what they offer.
Can Daizen Maeda play as a striker for Celtic in Europe?
After the departure of Kyogo Furuhashi midway through last season, Maeda’s performances through the middle impressed.
However, it remains the case that the Japan man has played his best football for the Hoops whilst operating on the left-wing.
This puts him in direct competition with Sebastian Tounekti and Iheanacho – two new signings who have enjoyed positive starts to life in Glasgow.
Rodgers’ team selection against Hibernian on Saturday will reveal more about what he’s thinking about his attack.