Reo Hatate is Celtic’s best midfielder at his peak, but that is not the issue right now. The real problem is that he is not on the pitch often enough, and that is where the focus has now shifted.
Hatate has already shown what he can do in a Celtic shirt. His technical level, movement and ability to dictate games set him apart when he is at his best.
That is why his absence continues to raise questions. Not about quality, but about why a player of that level is not consistently starting for Celtic.
There has been no clear public explanation. But one former Celtic coach has pointed directly to where the issue may lie.
You can only keep one of Daizen Maeda or Reo Hatate at Celtic…
Who do you pick?
Celtic are not leaving Reo Hatate out by choice
Darren O’Dea said there is an underlying problem when discussing Hatate’s situation, and what he’s said about what’s happening behind the scenes is telling.
The former Celtic coach said, “Well, that’s another story. That probably really is the underlying problem at Celtic is why your best midfield player isn’t on the pitch.
“And I can assure you it’s not because the manager ain’t picking him, because he’s flying and training, or he just thinks there’s a better player. There’s a problem.
“I’m more meaning he mustn’t be training, right? I don’t know. I don’t know. We don’t know.”
The key point is clear. O’Dea does not believe this is a football decision.
He explicitly rules out selection based on form or competition. Instead, he points to something else preventing Hatate from being involved at Celtic.
Celtic’s real issue with Hatate is consistency and availability
That view lines up with wider concerns that have already been raised. O’Dea has admitted frustration with Reo Hatate after working closely with him.
Those frustrations centre on a drop from the standards he is capable of reaching. The issue is not talent, but how often that level is actually delivered.
There have also been questions around his application. O’Dea has questioned Hatate’s application and whether he is consistently doing enough.
At the same time, he has made it clear that Hatate’s ceiling remains extremely high. That is why the conversation continues to come back to consistency.
O’Dea says consistency is the key problem, and that fits with what is being seen on the pitch.
When Hatate is available and performing, he elevates Celtic. When he is not, there is a clear gap.
The issue for Celtic is that Hatate’s high-level performances have not been frequent enough. That turns a top player into an unreliable option.
Celtic do not need to find a better midfielder. They need to get their best one on the pitch more often.
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