Celtic have didn’t win three of their final 5 matches in all competitions and have been held to drab scoreless attracts in two of these matches.
The Hoops didn’t make the breakthrough in opposition to Hibernian at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon, regardless of creating seven ‘massive possibilities’ to search out the again of the online, per Sofascore.
Brendan Rodgers shall be upset that his staff had been unable to attain from 26 photographs and 7 ‘massive possibilities’ at residence in entrance of their very own supporters, notably because the outcome has left them second within the desk.
It is going to be doubly irritating as a result of the Scottish giants additionally had six ‘massive possibilities’ to attain in opposition to Purple Star Belgrade within the Europa League on Thursday night time, however solely scored as soon as.
Because of this Celtic have scored one aim from 13 ‘massive possibilities’ created within the final two matches in opposition to Purple Star Belgrade and Hibernian, which doesn’t paint their assault in one of the best mild.
Kelechi Iheanacho was the participant who scored within the draw in opposition to the Serbian facet in midweek, with a terrific end into the highest nook, however he misplaced his mojo for the conflict with Hibernian.
Why Kelechi Iheanacho let Celtic down in opposition to Hibernian
The left-footed marksman made a terrific begin to his profession at Parkhead with a debut aim, from the penalty spot, in opposition to Kilmarnock to win the sport within the 96th minute.
Iheanacho then registered an help for Sebastian Tounekti in opposition to Partick Thistle within the League Cup in his second outing, earlier than scoring a superb aim in opposition to Purple Star Belgrade within the Europa League.
His contributions throughout these three matches earned him a begin within the quantity 9 place in opposition to Hibernian, having come off the bench within the matches to attain in opposition to Kilmarnock and Purple Star Belgrade.
Iheanacho was unable to construct on these promising cameos, although, as his efficiency in opposition to Hibernian left a bit an excessive amount of to be desired, notably along with his play in entrance of aim within the 0-0 draw.
The Nigeria worldwide performed the opening 67 minutes of the match in opposition to Hibs and was unable to make the breakthough in entrance of aim, regardless of the staff creating sufficient possibilities for him to take action.
Vs Hibernian | Kelechi Iheanacho |
|---|---|
Minutes | 67 |
Pictures | 4 |
Pictures on the right track | 1 |
Huge possibilities missed | 2 |
Passes accomplished | 9/10 |
Key passes | 1 |
Huge possibilities created | 0 |
Stats by way of Sofascore | |
As you possibly can see within the desk above, his teammates helped him to take 4 photographs at aim and have two ‘massive possibilities’, however he squandered his alternatives, together with one from close-range that smacked the crossbar.
The previous Sevilla marksman, who arrived at Parkhead as a free agent, shall be hoping that he can enhance his effectivity in entrance of aim as he will get again as much as full match sharpness, provided that the conflict with Hibernian was simply his second begin of the season.
Iheanacho misplaced his goalscoring contact for the weekend’s conflict, having scored in two of his first three video games, however there may be one other participant within the squad whose decline in kind in entrance of aim is much more regarding.
Rodgers unleashed Daizen Maeda on the proper flank in opposition to Hibernian, with Iheanacho via the center and Sebastian Tounekti on the left flank, and the Japan worldwide produced an underwhelming show.
Daizen Maeda has misplaced his Midas contact for Celtic
Within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, it appeared like every thing Maeda touched turned to targets. He ended the season with a return of 33 targets in 51 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.
The Japanese marksman, who scored 16 targets within the Scottish Premiership, earned the Participant of the Yr award in Scotland, due to his prolific kind in entrance of aim.
Sadly, it at present appears like final season’s exploits had been a flash within the pan for the 27-year-old attacker, whose output in entrance of aim has declined for the reason that finish of the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
As defined within the clip under from the Every day Report’s present, Maeda has “misplaced his Midas contact” for Rodgers on the prime finish of the pitch on this season’s proof to date.
The Celtic ahead missed two ‘massive possibilities’, as many as Iheanacho, while enjoying on the proper wing in opposition to Hibernian, per Sofascore, and earned a participant score of 6/10 from 67HailHail.
Sadly, lacking ‘massive possibilities’ has turn out to be a theme for the Japan worldwide this season within the Premiership, as he has didn’t kick on from his 33-goal marketing campaign final time period.
Daizen Maeda (Premiership) | 24/25 | 25/26 |
|---|---|---|
Appearances | 34 | 6 |
Objectives | 16 | 1 |
Minutes per aim | 160 | 446 |
Conversion fee | 28% | 13% |
Huge possibilities missed | 17 | 4 |
Stats by way of Sofascore | ||
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Maeda’s conversion fee has plummeted by 15% within the Premiership, which exhibits that he has been far too wasteful along with his photographs within the present season.
One doable clarification for his decline in kind is the truth that he missed out on a summer season transfer away from Parkhead. In his pre-Hibernian press convention, Rodgers instructed that the attacker might have a “unconscious” factor holding his performances again due to that failed transfer.
Maeda scored 33 targets final season and will have been excited to get a transfer to a serious European league, however the Hoops had been unable to supply a substitute for him late on within the window, and staying at Parkhead might have been powerful to take.
That is, after all, simply hypothesis, however Rodgers’ remark about it being a “unconscious” concern does level in direction of that being a doable cause for the ahead dropping his Midas contact in entrance of aim.
Hopefully, Maeda can get again on observe and begin to present the deadly effectivity within the last third that resulted in him profitable the Premiership Participant of the Yr award final season.
