“My body probably needs a break and mentally it’s also important,” Carter-Vickers | OneFootball

The news that both Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate will have a full month off before Celtic’s pre-season gets underway was welcome the other day…

Daizen Maeda and teammate Reo Hatate are pictured with the Scottish Premiership trophy after the season’s final match against St. Mirren, on May 17, 2025. Photo IMAGO (The Celtic Star)

When the Japan National squad was named for two upcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Australia on 5 June and at home to Indonesia on 10 June, the national team manager Hajime Moriyasu, opted to leave out his experienced players who had been playing gruelling schedules overseas and instead look to up and coming Japanese talent from the J-League for the two games which are essentially dead-rubbers as Japan has already qualified.

Reo Hatate wasn’t going to be joining up anyway after picking up an injury at Pittodrie in Celtic’s 5-1 win over Aberdeen but Brendan Rodgers has said that the creative midfielder, who was badly missed in the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen at the weekend, will be fine for the start of pre-season training.

Daizen Maeda has had an incredibly season and a very busy one at that with multiple trip back and forth from Japan and also travelling around Europe with Celtic in the Champions League. And it all started with a summer tour of the United States with Celtic grabbing notable wins over both Manchester City and Chelsea.

PFA Scotland POTY Daizen Maeda. Photo PFA Scotland.

PFA Scotland POTY winners Daizen Maeda and Emma Lawton both of Celtic FC. Photo PFA Scotland

Daizen Maeda, Celtic’s POTY. Photo Celtic FC

Daizen returned home to Japan recently to be with his wife at the birth of their son, but had to return as the baby Maeda kept them waiting. After the final on Saturday Daizen – a multiple Player of the Season award winner – headed on the first available flight to spend a well earned month off with his family.

Graeme Shinnie of Aberdeen clashes with Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic during the Scottish Cup Final match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Both Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda are so crucial to the Celtic cause that this rest period is significant. Anther player who falls into that crucial category for Celtic is our ‘Big Strong Man’, Cameron Carter-Vickers. And like our two Japanese stars, the American international central defender is also going to benefit from a month away from football. That too is most welcome from a Celtic perspective.

Speaking at Hampden on Saturday after the penalty shoot-out to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, Cameron Carter-Vickers admitted that it had been a long season and that he was looking forward to a break. While Hatate and Maeda both made over 50 appearances each, injuries restricted CCV to 44 appearances in thee season just ended.

Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers has welcomed the end of the 2024/25 campaign with open arms, following a “long season” at the club.

However Mauricio Pochettino did NOT call up Carter-Vickers or indeed his Celtic teammate Auston Trusty for his summer training camp in Chicago as the co-host’s preparations begin for the World Cup next summer. That suits us just fine Mauricio.

“It’s been a long season for me,” the 27 year-old Celtic defender said.”My body probably needs a break and mentally it’s also important. It’s a chance to recharge until the end of June now, and I’ll use every day of that.

Nicolas Kuhn, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Paulo Bernardo of Celtic celebrate their teams first goal, an own goal scored by Alfie Dorrington of Aberdeen (not pictured) during the Scottish Cup Final match between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“After the game, the manager spoke and said we will all hurt for a while after this, but at some point, we’ll reflect on the season and see that we won the league and got another cup in the bag. We also had a decent Champions League campaign.

“We’ll hurt for a few weeks, but we also have to reflect on a good season. Right now, we’re upset, but we’ll get back to work soon. It was disappointing to watch them lift the cup. However, I think that it will fuel us for next season,” CCV said.

Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image above to join.

More Stories / Latest News

“My body probably needs a break and mentally it’s also important,” Carter-Vickers

May 27 2025, 16:58

Peter Grant in tears, Paul McStay’s joy as he embraces Tommy Burns

May 27 2025, 15:44

Confirmed – Celtic B Team will play in Lowland League next season

May 27 2025, 13:30