Hatate brilliant at Hampden, more performances like that please Reo

Reo Hatate like every other Celtic player on Saturday hit top form at Hampden on Saturday as a rampant Celtic swept aside a sorry Dons side with absolute ease…

Reo Hatate
Reo Hatate at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Reo is an enigma 

Reo for me is a bit of an enigma. He’s clearly got talent in abundance that isn’t in doubt, but sometimes he looks a little out of sorts and doesn’t hit the form he’s truly capable of.

This failure to perform consistently is letting him down badly. If we are being truthful, he only hits top form in one in three games on average. With both Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo fighting for a place in the starting lineup Reo has more competition than he’s previously had in his Celtic career, so perhaps that will kick him on to improve his game in terms of consistency.

Reo Hatate
Reo Hatate at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Craft and guile was evident

On Saturday he had one of those better games. That craft and guile was evident for everyone to see and when Reo clicks, our midfield looks all the stronger for it. He was at his brilliant best against Aberdeen and must bring that form into the next game against a much stronger opponent in RB Leipzig, in the Champions League tomorrow night.

Reo gives Celtic an extra dimension

Reo gives Celtic an extra dimension in the middle of the park and can be a match winner on his day. On Saturday he looked every inch the talented player he so obviously is. Let’s just hope he can do it on a more regular basis. We will be all the more stronger for it.

Reo Hatate celebrates with CCV
Reo Hatate celebrates with Cameron Carter-Vickers at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Reo craves Champions League glory

Reo, like all our signings from Japan, craves Champions League glory. It was cruelly taken from him last season when he pulled his hamstring in the opening minutes of that memorable game against Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park this time last year.

Tomorrow night is his big chance to show the wider footballing world, including his national team manager, that Reo Hatate belongs at the top table of football.  Over to you Reo, you can do it!

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

1 Comment

  1. You have to remember that Hatate is nearly a full season behind, the changes Rodgers has introduced, to Ange established players?
    When you consider that Hatate was nearly unavailable for the best part of last season, and just how long it took established players, to adjust to Rodgers methods also?
    Now, it looks like the return of Hatate on show, especially as his fitness is getting up to the 90 minute mark now?
    Along with the growing confidence and understanding of what Rodgers is looking for with Hatate as a player?
    The full array of the talent Hatate possesses, where on show on Saturday?
    The next step is to maintain them, upon a consistent level?
    Still think that Hatate sees his longer term future elsewhere, and maybe the interest in him,late in the summer, did have an effect upon him?
    But that isn’t worth considering at present, even if this stands to potentially be Hatate last season with ourselves imo?
    But could watch performances like Hatate produced on Saturday, all day long, and hopefully we see many more of them for the remainder of this season also, starting with tomorrow night?