Celtic’s 3-0 defeat to AS Roma wasn’t an enjoyable night.
In Wilfried Nancy’s second game, he tasted defeat again, and the game was beyond the Hoops by the half-time whistle.
There wasn’t much of an atmosphere in the stadium in the first place, but Liam Scales’ own-goal after just five minutes made things feel seriously flat.
A brace from Evan Ferguson put Roma out of sight, and Arne Engels’ missed penalty before half-time compounded the misery.
But as all of this was going on, one Celtic man’s pre-match ritual was doing the rounds on social media.
Reo Hatate’s bizarre warmup before Celtic vs Roma
Reo Hatate isn’t like most footballers.
His outrageous talent is undeniable, making him a joy to watch at his best, yet sometimes he gets it horribly wrong. At times, it looks like he’s playing a different game to the other 21 players.
READ MORE: Wilfried Nancy says he ‘could’ve said no’ to Celtic start in direct Roma response
One thing for sure is that he does a different warm-up to them all.
Prior to the Roma encounter, TNT Sports cameras picked up Hatate’s ritual, which has now gone viral after being circled online.
Have a look here:
What do we think of Reo Hatate’s unique pre-match ritual?
Andrea Pirlo said that football is played with the head, and that your feet are just the tools. But by the looks of things, Hatate prioritises his eyes.
In a poor night for the Hoops, Hatate was maybe one of the better performers, helping the team play out and showing bravery in possession when others weren’t.
He was notably in a different role, with Nancy moving him into the midfield pivot with Callum McGregor, pushing Arne Engels further forward.
Reo Hatate’s Celtic season so far
After Celtic held onto him despite another summer of transfer rumours, the 28-year-old’s season took a while to get underway.
Hatate was particularly criticised for his performance against Dundee, which ultimately came a week before Brendan Rodgers’ sudden resignation.
The leadership and tactical tweaks under Martin O’Neill triggered an upturn in his form. Particularly in the 2-1 win at Feyenoord, Hatate was outstanding.
And if Nancy is to get the team winning with his high-possession style of football, Hatate will surely need to be part of that.
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