Reo Hatate fails to receive any minutes yet again for Japan as his struggles to hold a consistent place at national team level, continues…
Nine caps under Moriyasu
Hajime Moriyasu kept the Celtic midfielder on his bench or in the stand for the fourth successive game as his side created history by winning in Saudi Arabia for the first time ever. Japan are in glittering international form winning their last seven AFC World Cup 2026 qualification matches.
This is at the expense of Reo Hatate who despite achieving nine caps under Moriyasu’s impressive reign, has fallen out of favour as a regular starter under the 56 year-old’s stewardship.
Daizen Maeda did not start
Hatate’s teammate Daizen Maeda did not start the game either. Unlike Hatate, Maeda was a used substitute as he played 25 minutes against Roberto Mancini’s new Saudi Arabia team.
Kyogo snubbed yet again
Kyogo Furuhashi was snubbed yet again by Moriyasu as he has fallen completely out the picture at national team level.
With Reo Hatate’s position under scrutiny this season with Celtic due to the fine performances of Paulo Bernardo, it will be concerning for the Japanese playmaker that minutes have been limited at both club and national team status.
“If I can play in the shadows”
Speaking to Super World Soccer, Hatate outlined: “I have to keep my eyes on the current situation, but my top priority is for the team to win and qualify for the World Cup. Towards that, I want to do what I have to do. If I were to play, I would want to play in the shadows. If I can play in the shadows, I want to do what I always do in my own team, plus what is required of me in this team.
“I won’t say what I’m going to do, but we’ve been talking about those things on a personal level, and I want to make sure I do those things for the national team first, plus I hope to do them again when I return to my own team.”
Not too sure what Reo is referring to but it’s clear he is concerned about his situation at international level at least.
The 26 year-old will be looking to reignite his form of last season when he returns from the international break. Whether Brendan Rodgers sees him in a starting role remains to be seen, There is no doubting Hatate’s quality which is a valuable asset as Celtic head into a congested pile of fixtures, but the Celtic manager will be looking for an improvement in Hatate’s form which has been frustratingly subdued so far this season.
Conor Spence
Personally don’t believe that Hatate will be with ourselves next season, and wouldn’t be convinced that he will see this season out either imo?
Think Hatate has his attention upon the EPL, and the late interest rumoured for him during the summer window, has had bit of an impact upon himself also?
However, it also took a fair bit of time for kyogo and Maeda to adjust to the changes Rodgers introduced into there game, for which Hatate missed out upon with missing so much time due to injuries?
So Hatate still playing a bit of catch-up, where Paulo is more accomplished to the demands of Rodgers at present?
The Japanese manager has made it known that he doesn’t rate the Scottish game to highly, so the CL looks like being a bigger benchmark for our Japanese players regarding there international aspirations?
So could become a case that if Hatate has intentions of being involved with the Japanese team at a world cup, he may well see his chances improve if he was playing within the EPL?
Still remain a huge fan of Hatate as a player, not so sure that he will remain in the longer term plans of Rodgers all the same?