\n<\/p>\n
Maeda has been used through the middle and wide on the left since arriving from Yokohama F Marinos in 2022 and Nancy is delighted to have both options.<\/p>\n
“When he starts in the middle, he makes the run on the side to attack,” he said.<\/p>\n
“When he starts on the side, he makes the run towards the net. So this is all about this kind of situation.<\/p>\n
“After that, he can be good also as a number nine but he needs players around him.<\/p>\n
“He’s a player who can keep the ball but he likes to make the run, he likes to combine.<\/p>\n
“But also, tactically, he’s really interesting because when I have him on the side, I know that something will happen.<\/p>\n
“Or we can use the fact that he’s on the wing to be able to attack through the middle. So it depends.”<\/p>\n
Celtic have been profligate in the four defeats and one win Nancy has overseen, while a total of 29 goals from 17 league games is down 19 from the same stage last season.<\/p>\n
Asked if a new striker was among his priorities in January, Nancy replied: “Yes, but if you watch the [3-1 win over Aberdeen on Sunday] game, we missed many opportunities and it was not a forward.<\/p>\n
“We’ll see what we’re going to do with that. My job is to analyse my players first and, after that, I will see what I am going to do.<\/p>\n
“Sometimes, yes, we want to do things, but there are certain things that we cannot control.<\/p>\n
“We are not the only club. There are many things. I’m going to tell you, I like you, I want you as a number six, but maybe we’re going to be in competition with other clubs and so on.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n