Reo Hatate

His core strength is excellent, he is the best in our team at taking it into feet and rolling his man which was a big miss at times last year.

But it’s glaring to me personally watching him chase back his man even at a domestic level, they power away from him 9/10.

Technically he can mix it with the best imo at his best but physically I think he’s liable at the top level.

 

I'll be in the minority but don't rate him that much, strange though as we seem to play better when he is in the team but for the last season or more he hasn't contributed that much. Would take 10m for him easy

 

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous

 

Lovely finish for the goal and played pretty well. * knows what happened with the ball over the top from Matt, he pat his shants

 

Superb.

 

He's got some infuriating, naive rawness about him. Moments of class and moments of pure * stuff. Still brings something different and classy to the team. I think there could be so much more from him though when I see the good stuff.

 

When he's on it, he makes a massive difference to our team.

 

The huns wouldn't have got near us last season if we had our entire midfield fit.

 

He’s so good to watch when on form.

Looked to be enjoying the game a lot as well today, he usually looks a bit grumpy

 

The middle 3 are just absolutely frightening when they are at it, like today.

 

A magician on days like today..

So elegant and tries things that others don't even see..

That flick over the head was so unlucky and was instrumental in the left foot cross second half that Kyogo shoulda scored. Another class move..

 

He looked absolute class..

 

You high?
He is immense! Under Roger’s he is becoming better. ‍♂️

 

Played well today but when was the last time he played well, been too long. As long as he performs like this my personal valuation of him will increase and my desire for him to stay will get stronger

 

Still my favourite player to watch on his day. Silky smooth and unplayable when he is at full speed.

Pler.

 

mate he was injured most of last season ‍♂️
Yeah. Let’s hope he improves He seemed happier today

 

He honestly frustrates me because I think there is a lot of waste when he has the ability to do much better. I think the team would do better if he stopped shooting with his left foot.

 

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers claimed he was beginning to see the “top-class” midfielder he initially expected in Reo Hatate after the Japan international got their season up and running against Kilmarnock.

Hatate drilled home from 18 yards to send Celtic on their way to a 4-0 win in their opening William Hill Premiership game and continued to pose a threat.

The 26-year-old started last season on the bench as Rodgers preferred the now departed David Turnbull amid speculation over Hatate’s future, and the Japanese player ended the campaign with three goals from 21 appearances after being hit by several leg muscle injuries.

“I never saw the player that I hoped to see at the beginning of last season, for whatever reason,” Rodgers said.

“I was aware of him and I’d seen him play and liked what I’ve seen, but he never really got going through pre-season last year, not to what I was wanting.

And then he gets injured and then it was really broken for him and he had little spells where he came into the team but not consistently.

“He knows I like him as a player and and he knows what I want from him as a player, and what I’ve seen over the course of pre-season, he’s top class. He’s been absolutely brilliant since he’s come back.”

At times last season, Rodgers seemed to be frustrated with Hatate losing the ball in the wrong area in big matches.

“It’s just probably him maybe gaining a bit more clarity in what I want from a central midfield player,” he said.

“I want all the players to do the very best for Celtic and then that ambition to do well for Celtic will help them in their individual careers.

“So for me it was always about balance between a wonderful gifted player and taking the ball and how he operates in space