Celtic’s Reo Hatate celebrates his goal with teammate James Forrest during the cinch Premiership match between Celtic FC and Kilmarnock FC at Celt…Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images
Hugh Keevins is put straight on ‘unfair’ criticism of Celtic hero Reo Hatate
Mon 30 September 2024 15:10
Patrick Sinat
The great thing about this current Celtic squad is that Brendan Rodgers has assembled a team packed with strength and depth.
In defence, Auston Trusty is showing to be more than a capable backup for Cameron Carter-Vickers. Alex Valle also showed his quality after stepping in for Greg Taylor at halftime against St Johnstone and Adam Idah is doing a fine job deputising for Kyogo Furhuhashi.
And all that is before we even get to speak about the additions of Paulo Bernardo and Arne Engels in the Celtic midfield this summer to complement Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor.
The point is, the competition for a first-team place at Celtic is fierce which means at least three or four quality players will be left kicking their heels on the bench come matchday.
This makes Hugh Keevins‘ comments on Celtic midfielder, Reo Hatate, all that bit more bizarre.
Speaking on Superscoreboard this weekend, Keevins seems to have a theory on why Hatate was left on the Celtic bench and replaced by Bernardo for the game against St Johnstone.
Keevins said, “He [Hatate] is undoubtedly a top-class football player, but Bernardo is showing a better attitude at the moment.
“And maybe it’s the case that Bernardo is there to get in about the muck and nettles in Perth and get Celtic a result, and Hatate has been saved for the Westfalenstadion.
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“Or maybe Brendan Rodgers is looking and thinking, Paulo Bernardo is giving me more right now.”
Reo Hatate criticism ‘unfair’
Surprised at Keevins’ comments, Hatate was defended by fellow pundits Gordon Dalziel and Mark Wilson as they put the Superscoreboard pundit straight.
Dalziel replied: “I think it’s a wee bit unfair to say that it’s a case of who’s got the best attitude. I think the two of them will get terrific attitudes.
“I think in the Champions League game, and we had the debate the night before, talking about who will he play. He [Rodgers] went for Hatate, and Hatate was very, very good, you’ve got to say.
“I don’t know, he’s just mixed up the middle of the park and maybe wants to see the sort of a blend with those three, and the three quality players in there. And he’s got Hatate to come on off the bench and then it’s up to what he’s got to do midweek.
“But, I’m not going for who’s got the best attitude. I think it’s just rotation, and Hatate misses out tonight.”
Mark Wilson defends ‘incredible’ Reo Hatate
Agreeing with Dalziel, former Celtic defender Wilson said that Hatate’s start to the season has been just fine and it’s the Japanese midfielder was benched simply down to a selection ‘headache’ Brendan Rodgers has to manage.
Wilson continued, “On the Hatate one, I have to go with Daz, and I think Hatate’s been fine this season. I think he’s performed well in a lot of games, even in that Falkirk game that, you know, it’s his reverse pass into Valle for the Bernardo goal, you know, to lay off. So I think he’s an incredible player.
“I think it’s just Brendan Rodgers’ got a choice between two very good players like Daz says Bernardo might fit the plan better this evening.
“And Hatate will have a role to play, but it’s a great headache to have when you’ve got two players like that, plus you’ve got Engels, who looks to have cemented that other place early on in the Celtic season.”
Celtic’s squad depth utilised perfectly by Brendan Rodgers
Hatate has had a decent start to this season with two goals and an assist in nine appearances so far for Brendan Rodgers.
Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates after he scores his team’s second goal during the SPL | Premier League match between St. Mirren FC and Celtic FC at…
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
And whilst he may not be at his creative best, the Japanese international’s work rate in the heart of the Celtic midfield is class.
As I said previously, the problem Hatate (and the rest of the Celtic midfield for that matter) has is that with the quality Rodgers has at his disposal, there will be times that he, Arne Engels and Bernardo will find themselves on the sidelines at various points in the season.
The fact that Hatate was left on the bench has absolutely nothing to do with attitude, it had to do with Tuesday’s game against Borussia Dortmund in mind.
And now, it could very well be that Bernardo has done enough to start that game despite both he and the Hatate being in fine form at this early stage of Celtic’s season.
Related Topics
gordon dalziel
Hugh Keevins
Mark Wilson
Reo Hatate
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