Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate believes rival players are now targeting him more robustly after his Glasgow derby exploits vs Rangers.
Reo had an up and down first 5 months at Parkhead which began with him storming onto the scene with a derby brace against our rivals. Indeed, Hatate’s stunning showing in February’s 3-0 win over Rangers certainly caught the attention of supporters. Especially given it came quickly after a stunner against Hearts at Tynecastle.
All of a sudden, however, his form appeared to drip. He continued to be a regular for Ange Postecoglou over the course of the second half of the campaign. But he never managed to capture the spark he ignited against Rangers.
Many are putting that down to the fact he hasn’t had a proper break since before the start of the 2021 J-League campaign. But Hatate also believes he’s come in for some rougher treatment after that sparkling Celtic Park display.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, Reo said: “I am glad my years of work had prepared me for an occasion like that. But when it comes to what happened against Rangers with my goals, I think God was on my side! I remember getting goosebumps the first time I went on the pitch just before the kick-off. I was really nervous about that but then I was calm. I really felt the atmosphere and the fact that it blended into that pitch.
“Did I enter the zone that night? I think that’s a time you say that you can see the ball slowly or the opponent’s movements slowly. But I’ve no such experience, so what is the zone? I don’t know if that’s the case. However, I had a strong feeling and I think that these parts combined to make it a perfect match for me.
“But I think people played against me differently after that, the marking became tighter — more physical. Players would catch me on the ankle more when they were going for the ball. I think the opponents watched the game and thought, ‘I have to do this now’.”
Reo Hatate played huge part in Celtic title win, but there’s clearly more to come
Reo’s performances have certainly been up and down, but what can’t be forgotten in all of this is that he’s a title-winner. He played a key role in securing the Premiership crown, especially with the moment he’s discussing here against Rangers.
Hatate still managed to be a key component of a Celtic side that strung together win after win in 2022. You don’t remain a part of that in such an important position of the field if you’re a poor player.
Reo has already shown he has a fine passing range and decent drive in the final third. We know the shot he has on him too. There’s so much to like about what he provides Celtic, but there are clear improvements to be made too.
Towards the end of the campaign, perhaps due to tiredness, the former Kawasaki Frontale star was giving the ball away too often. He wanted too long in possession and didn’t have the right level of speed with his decision-making.
That’s something he needs to seriously work on over the summer period. If we’re going to be entering the UCL next season, we can’t have that as one of our bad habits. It’ll cost us dearly.
But overall Hatate can be delighted with how his opening half-year in Scotland has gone. There’s clearly a fine package of a player there. Hopefully he can unlock more of his potential next season after a prolonged summer break.
In other news, Kyogo Furuhashi tells Japanese media about “fulfilling” Celtic campaign
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