The reason Daizen Maeda hasn’t been scoring many goals lately

Daizen Maeda’s drop in goals this season points to a decline on the surface, but the underlying numbers reveal a different concern that Celtic cannot ignore.

His league tally has fallen from 16 goals to just 7, which naturally suggests a downturn in form. In a team like Celtic that relies heavily on consistent attacking output, that drop creates the impression that Maeda is no longer as effective in front of goal. However, the reality is not a lack of contribution — it is a lack of reward.

Despite the reduced goal return, Maeda’s attacking metrics remain largely unchanged. His chance volume is almost identical to last season, indicating he is still getting into the right areas and receiving similar opportunities.

The key difference lies in his finishing. Last campaign, he scored 16 goals from 12.76 expected goals, outperforming expectations. This season, he has managed only 7 goals from 12.49 expected goals, highlighting a significant drop in conversion rather than attacking presence.

There has also been a decline in execution, with his expected goals on target decreasing from 12.62 to 10.30. This suggests that when chances do come, the quality of his finishing has not been as sharp.

Beyond finishing, there are signs of reduced involvement. Maeda is featuring less frequently in attacking phases, with fewer touches and a lower presence in the box. This points to a diminished role in build-up play and final-third activity.

His creative output has also dipped, with fewer chances created and a lower expected assists figure, further limiting his overall attacking influence.

This situation goes beyond missed opportunities — it reflects a player contributing less consistently across multiple aspects of Celtic’s attacking play.

Even defensively, his impact has declined, with tackles dropping from 44 to 26 and overall defensive contributions falling from 68 to 52.