Celtic will return from the international break with some huge games to deal with.
In the Premiership, Champions League and the League Cup, it will all come to the fore during a packed and season-defining winter period.
Brendan Rodgers shouldn’t have too much to worry about because his Celtic squad is healthy, players are performing across the board, they have set themselves a brilliant platform and the bench is looking as strong as ever.
Celtic’s Scottish League Cup final showdown with Rangers on 15 December is the big one and another chance to down Philippe Clement’s side on the Hampden stage.
Adam Idah was the hero on that day last season and now another name will be looking to stand up and be counted for the champions.
There are a lot of fixtures yet to be played from now until then, and you do wonder if Clement will still be in a job given how his team are sliding.
But with the cup final a month away, Barry Ferguson is already dreading seeing one constant theme repeat itself.
Barry Ferguson worried about Daizen Maeda causing James Tavernier problems again
Over the years, Daizen Maeda has caused the Rangers captain no ends of problems and he simply has no answer.
The best part of it is that Celtic and Rangers fans know what’s going to happen, yet it still will happen again and again.
Despite that, a rather worried Ferguson is trying his best to tell his former side to ‘suffocate’ Maeda when they meet, as he told Go Radio.
Going by Ferguson’s comments, you have to wonder if Tavernier, who has been in and out of the Rangers XI, will actually start that game.
For me, the most important game is the cup final (rather than Rangers v Tottenham in the Europa League days before),” admitted Ferguson. “Look, every game is important. But that is a game that Rangers have to win. The team that plays against Tottenham. I would have a different team that plays against Celtic.
“I think the manager will sit and look closely at it,” added Ferguson on Tavernier playing v Celtic. “You have seen the difference. I thought Dujon was good on Thursday for the 50 minutes. Kasanwirjo, he came into that right-back area.
“He has been a thorn in Rangers’ side over the last number of years, Maeda. He is one player who you can’t give an inch. You need to suffocate him. If you don’t suffocate him, then you are in trouble.”
Maeda’s record for Celtic against Rangers
The Japan star has played 16 games against Rangers in all competitions, with many memorable moments, including that opening goal after just one minute at Ibrox last season.
That was a prime example of the nightmares Maeda gives opponents, especially Tavernier.
You have to wonder if Tavernier himself wants to come up against Maeda, and he would probably prefer his manager to put him out of his misery and bench him for that match.
Either way, Maeda has won 11 out of 16 games in the Glasgow derby and he won’t want to stop any time soon, as posted by Transfermarkt.
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