Introspective Reo Hatate wasn’t being petulant, he’s just his own biggest critic

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The Celtic Star

·15 settembre 2024

Introspective Reo Hatate wasn’t being petulant, he’s just his own biggest critic

There’s been a bit of debate following Reo Hatate’s substitution and apparent pique at the decision to withdraw him from the action yesterday afternoon. In some quarters, it has even been viewed as petulance, I’m not sure that’s the case at all…

Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor and Arne Engels in discussion on who should take the penalty. Celtic v Hearts , Celtic Park, 14 September 2024 Photo Robert Perry/Shutterstock

Much has been made of the three-way conversation – as viewed on Celtic’s Unique Angle coverage yesterday – where Reo Hatate –confirmed as Celtic’s principal penalty taker post-match by the manager – Callum McGregor and eventual goal scorer Arne Engels had a confab on the edge of the area.

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The Celtic captain appears to mouth ‘it’s up to you’ before Reo passes the ball to Engels and the Belgian slots away the penalty beautifully. This despite Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland expending more energy advising Engels he was in a pressure situation and questioning his transfer fee than the out of condition plumpish striker did in the time he managed to stay on the pitch, before his manager put his out of his misery.

After the kick is converted Hatate is seen in conversation with Brendan Rodgers, appears in good spirits and then he and Engels have a quick hug before the match restarts.

If Hatate had any problems with handing on the penalty baton it certainly didn’t appear that way before or immediately after the penalty was taken.

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Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor and Arne Engels in discussion on who should take the penalty. Celtic v Hearts, Celtic Park, 14 September 2024 Photo Robert Perry/Shutterstock

When Hatate was subbed it was reported he had struck a VAR monitor and stormed up the tunnel. That’s not what I saw initially as he appeared to connect positively with the manager although I appreciate I may have missed something that happened after that.

I think it’s unlikely the penalty incident caused much, if any, friction, and I doubt the substitution resulted anything more than what Reo Hatate has exhibited plenty of times during match or in periods of self-reflection after a game has concluded. Instead, as ever, I think Hatate is so self-critical at times I wish he would cut himself as much slack as others do who see his ability to be Celtic’s driving creative force.

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Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership Reo Hatate during the match between Celtic at Celtic Park on 14 September 2024. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/PSI

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Reo. You have to remember he has questioned whether his own ability is at a suitable level to be considered for international football, having sat out both of Japan’s international games recently. And although in the second half we saw the Japanese midfielder show flashes of creativity, the opening 45 minutes perhaps fell below his high standards.

If there was any ire from Hatate I would suggest it was directed almost solely at himself and the high standards he demands of himself rather than anything any more sinister than that.

I’ve seen it mentioned Hatate can be a hot and cold player, that he exhibits moodiness, irritability and impatience but I wouldn’t take that as being anything other than a player demanding a great deal from himself and his teammates, and perhaps occasionally falling a little short of what he expects to deliver.

Give me a player capable of such introspection any day, particularly one who strives to be the best version of himself and improve every time he sets foot on the pitch. That may come across to some as a negative, for me that’s a sign of a player who will improve and remain self-critical whilst in the process.

Niall J

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at full time during the match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on September 14, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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