Reo Hatate echoes Captain Cal’s call for future success on personal blog

Reo Hatate has enjoyed a fine start to life in a Celtic shirt since arriving in January from Kawasaki Frontale. The former J-League man came in and had a blistering start with the Parkhead club – scoring a double in his Glasgow Derby debut back in February. It was like a bomb exploding on the Celtic scene.

His exceptional displays complemented the dynamic new-look midfield post-Christmas in a three with his captain Callum McGregor and fellow new signing Matt O’Riley. Hatate’s energy and eye for goal provided a midfield that was in need of adrenaline a shot in the arm. Successive injuries to key players had depleted our starting eleven and general squad, before the Asian superstar hit our shores.

Now writing in his personal blog, the Japanese international has confirmed there is more to come after his first six months in Glasgow’s East End. After helping secure the cinch Premiership league title in May – to go along with the League Cup his teammates won in December – Reo is wanting more as we head into a new football calendar and the prestige of the Champions League group stages on the horizon.

Writing in his blog, he said: “After my transfer, I realised how fortunate I am to be able to play on a pitch in front of 60,000 supporters. I think athletes can shine because of the energy from the fans. I had goosebumps when I stood on the pitch of the Celtics stadium for the first time. The overwhelming cheers I heard the moment I entered the stadium were deeply moving and unforgettable. I also felt a big difference in football culture.

“When I’m walking down the street, many people talk to me, saying things like “photo with me?” or “sign please!” You can tell how passionate they are about football. They have both love and toughness for football and football players. Because I came to Scotland by myself, I have a lot more time to think, and I’ve had a number of realisations. I also read books and watch movies more. It feels like spending more time alone has allowed me to grow. Being a football player, I came from Japan with a strong determination to succeed in football.

He said: “But at the same time, I also want to grow as a person. I think I’ve been able to gradually mature as an individual, by having new experiences, confronting cultural and language barriers and learning how to spend time alone. Of course I feel I’m evolving every day as a football player too. There are things that worked in Japan that haven’t worked in Scotland. What’s common sense in Japan may not be the same here. I need to understand the play style of football here and how it’s different from Japan, and then put those learnings into practice. I think I grow as I become more aware of these differences and learn to adapt to them.”

Speaking about his personal goals, the buzzbomb admitted he suffered from some burnout issues as the season reached its conclusion last month, but that he has ambitions to make an impact on the continent as well as domestically. He added: “As for the future, now that we’ve earned a spot in Champions League, we need to achieve results. I think my real challenge overseas will begin when I go back to Scotland this summer. I‘ve only been there six months, so I should be able to have a sense of achievement for living and playing overseas at the end of a full year.

“There are many things I need to do to play throughout the entire season. I’ll continue to do my best in the next season and would appreciate your passionate support. Although my physical condition declined towards the end of the season, I’m proud to have played the whole season without injury. And most of all, I’m thrilled that we won the championship. Everyone is happy – my teammates, supporters, and everyone involved – and I love seeing their excitement. But I was frustrated at the same time, because I know how much better I can play.