September 16, 2024

STAND AND DELIVER, REO HATATE

Reo Hatate 'punch' missed by VAR as Celtic star floored with former ref  blasting red card miss - Daily Record

REO HATATE was a non-factor in Celtic’s engine room during the 2-1 Champions League loss to Lazio at Parkhead in midweek.

Brendan Rodgers needed all of his players to be at their best in a must-win game, but the Japanese midfielder, who is so influential when he is at his best, didn’t come close to meeting the standard.

According to statistics, Hatate had only 48 touches of the ball during his 72 minutes on the field before being replaced by on-loan Benfica player Paolo Bernardo.

Surprisingly, center defender Nat Phillips had 69 touches before being substituted by Cameron Carter-Vickers 10 minutes before the playmaker was taken off.

CQN pushed Hatate to stand up and be counted just a few days before the crucial clash with the Serie A aces.

We made the plea in the knowledge the 25-year-old had failed to spark since the start of the season and had yet to last 90 minutes in any outing.

Hatate has been puzzlingly short of form and appears to lack his usual stamina to get around the pitch to maintain involvement, a major strength in his armoury.

Celtic and Reo Hatate in positive new contract mood as midfielder problem  named amid swirling transfer interest - Daily Record

Every player who has ever kicked a ball will have spells when they are not at their best, when every bounce seems to be against them. It’s part and parcel of the game.

However, it’s Hatate’s disturbing and protracted plunge in form that is so baffling. The 25-year-old former Kawasaki Frontale player has been a pivotal figure in the Hoops first team since his whirlwind start to his new career shortly after his arrival in January 2022.

He won the Man of the Match accolade on his debut – a 2-0 win over Hibs at Parkhead – and the dynamic performer took centre stage in the same arena the following month when he rifled two shots into the net of the Ibrox visitors in an emphatic 3-0 success.

That breathtaking virtuoso performance propelled Celtic to the Premiership pinnacle for the first time in 18 months and they remained in pole position for the remainder of the term to claim their tenth title in 11 years.

Alas, that display is anchored in the past. Hatate didn’t even last an hour in the opening Champions League Group E outing against Feyenoord in Rotterdam where he made way for Swedish youngster Odin Holm who was red-carded 11 minutes later in the 2-0 setback.

HATATE AND THE HONEST ADMISSION | Celtic Quick News

He missed the late drama at Fir Park a week ago today after being removed from the action in the 76th minute with David Turnbull coming on.

Nine days ago, Hatate pledged his immediate future to the champions by signing a new five-year deal.

It’s time for him to repay some of the faith put in him by Brendan Rodgers and the club’s hierarchy. This afternoon against Kilmarnock at Parkhead would be an ideal setting for him to show he was worth the extended negotiations.

We repeat: Will the real Reo Hatate please stand up?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *