Daizen Maeda has admitted that the pressure he faces at Ipswich Town is on a "completely different level" compared to his time at Celtic, after making the switch to the Premier League last summer.
The Japan international was open about his desire to leave the Premiership champions and secure a move to England's top flight. He got his wish when he joined the newly promoted Tractor Boys in a deal worth an initial £8 million, potentially rising to £10 million with add-ons.
Struggles in the Premier League
So far, the 29-year-old has found life difficult, making appearances both in the starting line-up and off the bench under manager Gary O'Neil. He has scored just one goal and is yet to register an assist for his new side.
Speaking to media in his homeland while preparing for friendlies against Brazil and Paraguay, Maeda acknowledged that he feels a greater responsibility to score for Ipswich than he did at Celtic.
Discussing his only goal for the club, which came against Manchester City, Maeda said: "I always thought that a chance would come someday, and I felt like that chance had finally arrived. No matter who the opponent is, it's the Premier League, so I wanted to score a goal, but I also believed that if I kept working steadily, a chance would definitely come, so I'm glad that I was able to score in a match that was attracting attention."
Rare Chances and National Team Hopes
He added: "The chances are on a completely different level compared to when I was at Celtic. In that match, there really was only one shot. It was either I scored it or I didn't. Especially as a newly promoted team, I knew I had to score, so I'm glad I was able to score it on the first try. I really feel how important it is to score one goal when you're in the Premier League."
Maeda also conceded that his slow start to the season made him expect to be left out of the Japan squad. He said: "I thought it would be impossible for me to make the national team, but Moriyasu selected me and has continued to use me up to this point. I want to play with a sense of gratitude."
Despite being deployed in various roles by O'Neil, including midfield and wing-back, Maeda insists he is happy at Ipswich. He said: "Being able to play in various positions is one of my strengths, so I want to play well in whatever position I'm given and help the team get results. Instead of sitting back and defending, we've been aggressive and proactive in the previous series of games, so I want to show that attitude in the match against Brazil as well."
