CELTIC fans have been patiently waiting for the real Reo Hatate to show up this season. Finally, on Saturday, the level of performance they have come to recognise from the midfielder was again on display, and it was ultimately too much for Kilmarnock to handle.
Hatate scored a brilliant opening goal for Celtic, producing a lovely drag-back to free himself from David Watson and then stroking a precise finish low into Will Dennis’s bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the area.
And quite apart from his goal, his overall contribution was much more like it, as he heeded the words of manager Brendan Rodgers to up his work rate and show that he was willing to graft for the team off the ball as well as showing his undoubted quality on it.
The one blot on his copybook was an attempt to win a penalty as he went down far too easily under the challenge of Watson in the second half. Referee Matthew MacDermid bought it, but overturned the call after a VAR review.
Take that out of his make-up, and maintain the sort of effort and commitment he put in over the piece, and Hatate may indeed be able to put his early season difficulties behind him and get back to his best.
“That was better,” Hatate said.
“Even though I had difficult times, this can be a turning point for me and hopefully I can perform very well.
“It’s definitely not always good times. Sometimes you are kind of down and you have to work hard to go up. This game was a good opportunity for me.
“At the beginning of the season, I had an injury. After I came back, I did like the minimum job. Rather than that, I have to do my maximum performance like [on Saturday]. Doing that, hopefully I can contribute more to the team.”
There has been a school of thought that the departure of Ange Postecoglou may have played a part in Hatate’s malaise, but just as new manager Rodgers was able to wring a much-improved display from the midfielder at the weekend, he too was a factor in Hatate agreeing a new long-term contract.
Though, when asked what it was that made his mind up when deciding to commit to the club, there were apparently some other incentives.
“Because the money goes up!” he laughed.
“No, putting jokes to the side, speaking to the manager and speaking about the future plans, I’m convinced about his plan and I thought I can improve myself under this manager.
“Working under different managers can always be difficult, but I just want to put in my performance whoever the manager is. I cannot make an excuse because the gaffer is different.
“My strong point is to be able to work under any circumstances, so that’s how I try to perform.
“I wasn’t really concerned after the previous manager left. With the current manager, it’s obviously different but I’ve already had three or four occasions to speak with him personally.
“He’s given me a personal challenge, or even for us all as a team. It’s a different way to work with him and I’m certainly enjoying it.”
Celtic scored a contentious second through a similarly well-taken Luis Palma effort, with Kilmarnock fuming as Hatate was adjudged to be onside in the build-up when he looked clearly to be leaning off. The VAR review determined that Killie defender Stuart Findlay had dangled a leg out towards the ball, thus rendering Hatate’s positioning irrelevant.
If the call was harsh, the scoreline wasn’t at that stage, with the home side thoroughly worth their two-goal advantage.
The visitors did eventually make a game of it though, and executed a counter-attack that led to the impressive Watson slipping the ball under Joe Hart and briefly bringing his side within a goal.
“His potential is whatever he wants it to be,” said Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell about his young teammate.
“He can do everything. First and foremost, he applies himself every single day. He’s one of the best players in training every single day. He works hard every single day. That’s the foundation of a top, top professional.
“He can do everything in the middle of the pitch. He can win the ball back, he can keep the ball, he can get on the half turn, he has a lovely eye for a pass – and, clearly, you also saw when he gets a chance, he can finish.
“If he just keeps his feet on the ground, keeps working hard – with the gaffer and the club believing in him – then I’m sure there will be clubs watching him up and down.
“He just needs to keep cracking on, keep doing what he’s doing.
“Just keep working hard in training, the rest will take care of itself.”
The late rally wasn’t quite enough for Killie to recue anything from the game, Greg Taylor tapping home from a corner to secure the win for Celtic, and the Rugby Park men still have only that single win over Rangers in their eight Premiership matches so far.
“The squad’s in a great place, everyone’s in it together,” Vassell added.
“We just need to nip these mistakes out of our games and get results and start kicking up the table.”
