Japan based sports journalist Dan Orlowitz has this morning provided a summary and a translation on a very frank diary entry by Reo Hatate written for Sportiva where The Celtic midfielder talks about his full international debut for Japan against Vietnam and also about adjusting to life at Celtic and most worryingly talks about the fatigue that he is having to deal with after finishing a season in Japan, heading to Scotland and picking up playing for the second half of our season.
With full credit due to Dan Orlowitz here’s his translation on what Reo has been saying:
Reo Hatate “on his 45-minute appearance against Vietnam: “Honestly I would have liked to play longer, but I was able to play as an inside half and I felt like I was pulling off the same plays I did at Celtic.
“The 4-3-3 system reaffirmed the importance of improvisational – the three midfielders understanding each others’ ability and what they want to do in an instant so that they can perform at their maximum. I had two shots but I was disappointed we couldn’t make more of them.
“After we clinched a World Cup spot, the senior players said ‘the new competition starts now,’ and it really hammered home that the world of the national team is about producing results in the limited amount of time you have and surviving.”
Hatate continued: “I think there’s meaning in Japan having to win out in a tough group, because when I moved to Celtic I wanted to get results with this team and play in the Champion’s League. I came to Europe so I could face off against players in Germany and Spain who regularly play in the Champions League.
“At the start of the Olympic cycle I wasn’t part of the main squad … I was probably on the borderline, and then because I carved out new territory playing fullback at Frontale, I created a chance for myself at Tokyo 2020.”
Reo continued: “I’m not a player who’s regularly selected for the national team and gets results, and I don’t know how far I can grow until the World Cup. But I absolutely want to challenge myself.”
On Celtic: “Since my debut against Hibernian I’ve felt the intensity of the European game and played a number of games. The fact that I’ve kept getting appearances shows that the team trusts in me and that’s given me a lot of confidence.
“But for what feels like the first time, I’m definitely feeling emotional and physical fatigue. It’s been three months since I arrived in Glasgow and getting used to a new environment on and off the pitch has been trial and error.
“In Japan there were ways I could refresh myself and take a mental break but that’s difficult when you’re playing so frequently. There are times when can’t make a run on goal, or hold back on the attack to preserve the team’s balance, and I have to recognise my fatigue.
“For the national team I had to go to Australia, then Japan, and back to Scotland. It was my first call-up as an overseas player and I was confronted with the difficulty of maintaining your condition while traveling and then immediately having to get results for your team.
“When you’re away from your team on National Team duty there’s a chance you can lose your position. My first day back at Celtic there was a moment that I saw two balls and was clearly jetlagged… but in Europe you need to be tough enough to stay fit and fight for your position.
“So to start against Rangers gave me a lot of confidence. It was huge to be able to help create the equaliser. On the match sheet I didn’t score a goal or record an assist, but it was huge that I was able to leave my mark on the team’s victory.
“Daizen talked about how even though the team has been building on what it’s been doing, those of us who joined mid-season have added our own strength and helped push us into first place. I definitely feel tired but I want to keep doing whatever I can to help the team win the league, and I think I’ll become tougher and stronger as a result.”
Analysis on this diary from Reo Hatate to follow from Niall J…
On his 45-minute appearance against Vietnam: “Honestly I would have liked to play longer, but I was able to play as an inside half and I felt like I was pulling off the same plays I did at Celtic.”
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) April 20, 2022
“After we clinched a World Cup spot, the senior players said ‘the new competition starts now,’ and it really hammered home that the world of the national team is about producing results in the limited amount of time you have and surviving.”
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) April 20, 2022
“At the start of the Olympic cycle I wasn’t part of the main squad … I was probably on the borderline, and then because I carved out new territory playing fullback at Frontale, I created a chance for myself at Tokyo 2020.”
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) April 20, 2022
On Celtic:
“Since my debut against Hibernian I’ve felt the intensity of the European game and played a number of games. The fact that I’ve kept getting appearances shows that the team trusts in me and that’s given me a lot of confidence.”
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) April 20, 2022
“In Japan there were ways I could refresh myself and take a mental break but that’s difficult when you’re playing so frequently.
“There are times when can’t make a run on goal, or hold back on the attack to preserve the team’s balance, and I have to recognize my fatigue.”
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) April 20, 2022
“So to start against Rangers gave me a lot of confidence. It was huge to be able to help create the equalizer. On the match sheet I didn’t score a goal or record an assist, but it was huge that I was able to leave my mark on the team’s victory.”
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) April 20, 2022
“I definitely feel tired but I want to keep doing whatever I can to help the team win the league, and I think I’ll become tougher and stronger as a result.”
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) April 20, 2022
It’s nice that he’s actually acknowledging what a lot of us are suspecting re his fitness and fatigue. He set the bar so high in his first few games and then he dropped off a lot- it’s good he seems to understand what it’s going to take to grow further.
— Rían (@TheDhogs) April 20, 2022
