Celtic now face an anxious wait to learn the severity of Reo Hatate’s injury after he was forced to leave the field during Wednesday night’s Scottish Premiership encounter at Pittodrie…
Hatate, who was brought on in the second half, was on the receiving end of a heavy tackle from Aberdeen’s Pape Habib Gueye towards the end of the game.
The Japanese midfielder went to the ground holding his knee following the challenge. Celtic had made all their changes so had to finish the match 10 v 10, while Brendan Rodgers showed clear frustration on the sidelines.
“It was a needless challenge,” said the Celtic boss. “I think the free kick was given, the ball’s just run away, Reo’s just relaxed and stopping it, and the guy loses his head and just kicks through it and block tackles him.”
“So, hopefully it’s not going to be too serious, but it was a needless challenge. I don’t want to speculate until we know over the next couple of days, but it was a sore one and, like I said, there was no need for the challenge.”
In just eight days, Celtic will face Aberdeen once more in the Scottish Cup final. Wednesday night’s win over Jimmy Thelin’s side was thoroughly dominant, with goals from Maik Nawrocki, Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan, Johnny Kenny, and Adam Idah.
Post-match, Rodgers expressed his delight at the Hoops’ display: “It was outstanding. I’m very pleased, actually. I’ve always said whatever changes I do make, for me it doesn’t and it shouldn’t affect the structure of the team, how we want to play.”
“Of course, certain individuals will bring different things to it, but the players have clarity on our structure and how we work, and what we expect within that.”
“We’ve seen that right the way through the evening. A lot of the attacking connections were so good, but it all comes from a basis of real hard work and pressing, and then that allows us to play at the tempo that we want to.”
Celtic return to action this weekend at Celtic Park, where they will host St Mirren in their last Premiership fixture of the campaign.
Conor Spence
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Guyne should not have been on the pitch had referee done his job he got booked for hauling back schlup then after that took out khunn another yellow then had bad challenge on johnston but he should thank johnston for not rolling about he was running about like a man possesed no surprise with that ref who has never been fair to Celtic I remeber hampden Griffiths header was handed by Inverness player penalty and a sending off never gave it Celtic board should send in video of his refereeing in our games he should have been sacked after hampden farce cost us the cup and now might lose hiata for the season guyne should miss final for his tackle on hiata and khun