Celtic kicked off their Scottish Premiership campaign with a blistering 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Parkhead in front of a capacity Parkhead crowd.
Once Jim Craig unfurled the league flag, the Hoops entered a state of domination for almost the entirety of proceedings as they showed why they are still the team to beat in Scotland.
Reo Hatate, Liam Scales, Nicolas Kuhn and Anthony Ralston got themselves on the scoresheet for Celtic in a relentless display where Brendan Rodgers’ men’s attacking intent never wavered throughout the 90 minutes.
Despite the lack of additions to the squad, it would be hard to argue that anyone had a bad game for the home side, who amassed 25 shots on goal and over 80% possession.
Setting the benchmark for the season, Rodgers has now opened up on his specific expectations for one of the key cogs in his machinery.
Brendan Rodgers on Reo Hatate
Following his comments on Hatate appearing to be a ‘different animal’ against Kilmarnock, Rodgers has now expanded on his expectations for the Japanese midfielder this term after a difficult 2023/24 marred by injury.
He explained [Mailsport]: “I didn’t see the player that I hoped to see at the beginning of last season, for whatever reason. I was aware of him and I’d seen him play and I liked what I’d seen. But he never really got going through pre-season last year. And not to what I was wanting. He got injured, and then it was really broken for him.
“He had little spells where he came into the team, but not consistently. But he’s come back for pre-season now. And obviously, how the season ended, again, there’s that confidence. He knows I like him as a player. And he knows what I want from him as a player.
“There was always a wonderful, gifted player in how he takes the ball and how he operates in space. For me, it was about keeping the risk in the game. Because I don’t like midfield players that keep the ball 10 times out of 10. It’s no good. But there are areas of the pitch in which to risk it.
‘And I think that what I’ve seen over the course of pre-season, he’s top class. I’d hoped I could see that last season, but it doesn’t matter. He’s here now, and he’s been absolutely brilliant since his comeback. So I’m really pleased for him.”
Reo Hatate could hold the key to Celtic success
Immediately, from observing Hatate, his willingness to be adventurous on the ball is the main quality that stands out in the engine room.
Yesterday, he took on eight shots in total and found the final third with progressive passes on five occasions, demonstrating his desire to make things happen [Fotmob].
Celtic have line-breakers in the side; nevertheless, Hatate is arguably the most gifted player at the club, so when he turns in performances such as yesterday, the Bhoys usually flourish as a result.
Rodgers has signalled his importance to the side this campaign. It would be hard to argue on evidence that there are too many more important to our chances of retaining the Scottish Premiership title.
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