'I doubt there's anyone better in world football' - Brendan Rodgers puts Celtic star on global pedestal

The Hoops kickstarted their Champions League campaign in impressive fashion on Wednesday night with a 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava at an electrified Parkhead.

One of the star performers was Daizen Maeda who not only netted the team's fourth goal but also led from the front when it came to chasing down defenders, forcing mistakes and winning the ball back.

The 26-year-old is now on four goals and two assists in all competitions so far this season but it was a moment of selfless running towards the end of the tie that stood out for Rodgers as he lavished high praise on the 26-year-old Japan international.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter final clash with Falkirk, he said: "I would doubt there is anyone better in world football than Daizen Maeda in that context.

"I watched an image towards the end of the game and if you see a certain angle of the clip he is making a recovery run into the left-back position tracking their right back and thinking the ball is going to come across. But then the ball instead goes to the centre half and he (Maeda) presses it and nicks it and is away. Even if you can do that, it is the will and desire to actually do that.

"Most players won't have that. He could have easily dropped that press and not do that one. That was the one that was important and he went, realised it wasn't getting there and actually got to the centre half before the guy who should have got there. It was incredible, unbelievable pressing but that’s mentality."

Rodgers also emphasised the quality of the team performance against the Slovakian side that eliminated the champions of Cyprus and Denmark in qualifying for the Champions League.

“No matter what is said, every team that plays in the Champions League is there believing that they are a big team,” he said.

“There are obviously clearly some more prestigious clubs than others because of their history, but every club that goes into that competition has done well and is a champion or a very good team in their own right.

“You know when you’re playing that, you’ve got to perform, so for us to play to that level with that pressure was something that didn’t surprise me, but it was great to see.”