Ex-Celtic star Liel Abada opens up on ‘very, very difficult time in Scotland’ as he scores first goal for new club
LIEL ABADA insisted his first ever goal in the MLS was payback for the ‘very, very difficult time in Scotland’ he endured as the former Celtic star was named Man of the Match. The Israeli winger helped Charlotte FC to a 3-2 win over Toronto and netted his first goal for his new club in his third appearance for the North Carolina outfit. APAbada celebrates his first Charlotte FC goal[/caption] It was his first goal since scoring for the Hoops at Pittodrie in a 3-1 win back in August against Aberdeen. And he was thrilled with the milestone. Abada said: “I have been waiting for this goal for a very long time. I had a very, very difficult time in Scotland, now I’m happy and I just wanted to enjoy it. “We are happy with the three points which are the most important. “I am very pleased that I scored. Now my aim is to score more goals here. “We have some very good players in attack, there is good chemistry between us. We work hard and know what we have to do. The coaching team here teaches us a lot.” And Abada‘s boss – former Aston Villa and Leicester City manager Dean Smith – was delighted at the 22-year-old’s performance. Smith said: “Liel came to the party today. He is a humble guy, you could see how important this goal was to him. His impact on the game was great.” Meanwhile, Hoops ace Daizen Maeda could’ve played his last game of the season. The Japanese winger missed Saturday’s 3-0 win over St Mirren with a hamstring injury just six days after a starring role in the 3-3 Old Firm draw with Rangers. Boss Brendan Rodgers said: “I’m not sure we’ll see Daizen again this season, I don’t expect him to feature too much. It’s such a small window now.” Taking to Instagram, Maeda revealed the biggest regret stemming from his injury setback. That regret being that his son – who’s getting into football – won’t be able to watch him again over the next few weeks. He said: “What’s most frustrating is that I won’t be able to show my son, who loves soccer, playing, but right now I just have to trust in my teammates and do what I can!” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
LIEL ABADA insisted his first ever goal in the MLS was payback for the ‘very, very difficult time in Scotland’ he endured as the former Celtic star was named Man of the Match.
The Israeli winger helped Charlotte FC to a 3-2 win over Toronto and netted his first goal for his new club in his third appearance for the North Carolina outfit.
It was his first goal since scoring for the Hoops at Pittodrie in a 3-1 win back in August against Aberdeen.
And he was thrilled with the milestone.
Abada said: “I have been waiting for this goal for a very long time. I had a very, very difficult time in Scotland, now I’m happy and I just wanted to enjoy it.
“We are happy with the three points which are the most important.
“I am very pleased that I scored. Now my aim is to score more goals here.
“We have some very good players in attack, there is good chemistry between us. We work hard and know what we have to do. The coaching team here teaches us a lot.”
And Abada‘s boss – former Aston Villa and Leicester City manager Dean Smith – was delighted at the 22-year-old’s performance.
Smith said: “Liel came to the party today. He is a humble guy, you could see how important this goal was to him. His impact on the game was great.”
Meanwhile, Hoops ace Daizen Maeda could’ve played his last game of the season.
The Japanese winger missed Saturday’s 3-0 win over St Mirren with a hamstring injury just six days after a starring role in the 3-3 Old Firm draw with Rangers.
Boss Brendan Rodgers said: “I’m not sure we’ll see Daizen again this season, I don’t expect him to feature too much. It’s such a small window now.”
Taking to Instagram, Maeda revealed the biggest regret stemming from his injury setback.
That regret being that his son – who’s getting into football – won’t be able to watch him again over the next few weeks.
He said: “What’s most frustrating is that I won’t be able to show my son, who loves soccer, playing, but right now I just have to trust in my teammates and do what I can!”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
