Hatate brilliant at Hampden, more performances like that please Reo

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The Celtic Star

·4 November 2024

Hatate brilliant at Hampden, more performances like that please Reo

Reo Hatate like every other Celtic player on Saturday hit top form at Hampden on Saturday as a rampant Celtic swept aside a sorry Dons side with absolute ease…

Reo Hatate at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Reo is an enigma

Reo for me is a bit of an enigma. He’s clearly got talent in abundance that isn’t in doubt, but sometimes he looks a little out of sorts and doesn’t hit the form he’s truly capable of.

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This failure to perform consistently is letting him down badly. If we are being truthful, he only hits top form in one in three games on average. With both Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo fighting for a place in the starting lineup Reo has more competition than he’s previously had in his Celtic career, so perhaps that will kick him on to improve his game in terms of consistency.

Reo Hatate at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Craft and guile was evident

On Saturday he had one of those better games. That craft and guile was evident for everyone to see and when Reo clicks, our midfield looks all the stronger for it. He was at his brilliant best against Aberdeen and must bring that form into the next game against a much stronger opponent in RB Leipzig, in the Champions League tomorrow night.

Reo gives Celtic an extra dimension

Reo gives Celtic an extra dimension in the middle of the park and can be a match winner on his day. On Saturday he looked every inch the talented player he so obviously is. Let’s just hope he can do it on a more regular basis. We will be all the more stronger for it.

Reo Hatate celebrates with Cameron Carter-Vickers at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Reo craves Champions League glory

Reo, like all our signings from Japan, craves Champions League glory. It was cruelly taken from him last season when he pulled his hamstring in the opening minutes of that memorable game against Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park this time last year.

Tomorrow night is his big chance to show the wider footballing world, including his national team manager, that Reo Hatate belongs at the top table of football. Over to you Reo, you can do it!

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Celtic in The Thirties – out tomorrow!

Matt Corr’s highly anticipated Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) are published tomorrow on Celtic Star Books. Order your copies today and receive signed copies which will be posted on Wednesday morning. Order at celticstarbooks.com