Not many Celtic players frustrate fans more than Reo Hatate.
That’s because the Celtic Park faithful are well aware of what Hatate is capable of, after watching him boss big games and big stages on numerous occasions.
Unfortunately this season, Hatate is a shadow of himself, and he is probably lucky that he is starting matches under Martin O’Neill.
One man who has worked with Hatate up close and personal is Darren O’Dea, and he didn’t hold back in how he felt about the declining midfielder.
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You can only keep one of Daizen Maeda or Reo Hatate at Celtic…
Who do you pick?
Darren O’Dea is unhappy with Reo Hatate’s Celtic form
Many sense that the writing is on the wall, and all of this points to Hatate leaving Celtic in the summer.
That might be true, but it shouldn’t stop the Japan star from showcasing his best work on the pitch, because he is far from that, and it has left O’Dea ‘frustrated.’
Speaking on Sky Sports Football, O’Dea suggested that Hatate probably had his eyes on leaving in the summer, and that’s probably playing a part in him producing such abject performances.
“I think probably because at the start of the season his eyes were wandering for a move,” said O’Dea on why Hatate is struggling. “It didn’t happen.
“I think probably in January, similar again. It’s not happened.
“But he has frustrated me watching him this year. I have seen, at close hand, how high a level of a player he is when he is on it. There is a clear dip in, not just his form, but his actual attitude towards the game.”
What a line-up this is? Would that have been possible?
What changes would you make?
Hatate’s ‘attitude’ is called out
On Sunday, as Celtic beat Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, thanks to Julian Araujo’s stunning late winner, it stemmed from the changes O’Neill made at half-time.
O’Neill took off Hatate, alongside two other players, and it changed Celtic’s performance.
All in all, it’s not a good look, as O’Dea pointed out that if Hatate can change his way and find his old form, then he will feel ‘like a new signing’ for the champions of Scotland.
“You talk about all the signings that are coming in to impact the team, he could be like a new signing (if he starts performing),” stated O’Dea.
“In Martin’s first interim spell, he could a real tune out of Reo Hatate. But we haven’t seen that the second time around. He is a massive player, and he needs to bring more to the table now – if Reo Hatate is at his best, he is arguably Celtic’s best midfield player. Maybe other than Callum McGregor.
“Essentially, if he is at his best, he should be an upgrade on Arne Engels or Nygren, for that matter. That’s why I say ‘frustrated’, it’s because I know how good he is. We have all seen that. He affects big games as well. He’s been excellent in Champions League games. Games against Rangers. He has impacted massively.
“It’s the attitude, I think. The attitude (needs to change). It shouldn’t stop you from running.”
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