AFCON 2025
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has praised the impact of Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho after the half-time substitute scored in a 1-1 draw against Red Star Belgrade.
Iheanacho, a post-deadline-day signing, replaced Daizen Maeda at halftime after the Japan international struggled in the center-forward role.
Celtic failed to create any clear chances from open play in the first half but immediately improved with Iheanacho on the pitch, forcing three saves before the striker took an excellent touch and slotted the ball into the top corner in the 55th minute.
Speaking to BT Sport, Rodgers acknowledged Maeda’s poor performance. “He wasn’t at his best, or nowhere near it. However, he’s a good guy and sometimes that happens in the game,” he said.
Rodgers explained that he specifically wanted to bring on a forward who could hold up the ball.
“I could have made a couple of changes at half-time. I wanted to make that one certainly to give us that greater reference at the top of the pitch. I thought Kels coming in was very, very good for us,” he explained.
“We needed someone centrally to hold the ball up. I felt that we arrived into the final third in the first half and then we were either loose with the ball or didn’t hold the ball up,” Rodgers added. “It’s one of Kels’ great strengths. He can take the ball in, he can use his body well and obviously allows you to progress up the pitch. So he gave us a really much better platform in the second half.”
