Reo Hatate has shared his aspirations for both Celtic and the Japanese national team as he navigates a pivotal phase in his career. The 26-year-old midfielder has struggled to maintain consistent form for Celtic this season, leading to manager Brendan Rodgers leaving him out of the starting lineup in two of the last three matches.
On the international stage, Hatate has faced similar challenges. He was not selected to start in Japan’s recent World Cup qualifying matches and remained on the bench during their 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. This pattern looks set to continue, with Hatate likely to remain among the substitutes when Japan takes on Australia at the Saitama Stadium in their next qualifier.
Hatate’s current situation highlights the difficulties he faces in trying to cement a place in both club and national lineups, and he has spoken about his desire to rise to these challenges. The coming months will be crucial for him as he looks to re-establish himself as a key player in Brendan Rodgers’ squad while aiming for more significant involvement with the Japan national team.
Reo Hatate faces uncertainty over his place in the starting lineup for Celtic’s crucial clash against unbeaten Aberdeen at Parkhead this Saturday. Despite being a fan favorite, the Japanese midfielder has struggled to find his best form this season. In his absence, Celtic captain Callum McGregor has been partnering with other midfield options, including Arne Engels, the club’s record £11 million signing, Paulo Bernardo from Benfica, and Luke McCowan, who joined on deadline day from Dundee for £1 million.
The competition in midfield has increased the pressure on Hatate to rediscover his form. In addition to his club struggles, Hatate has faced challenges at the international level, missing out on recent World Cup qualifiers for Japan. Addressing his lack of game time, he revealed that he has discussed his situation with Japan’s head coach, Hajime Moriyasu, but chose to keep the details of their conversation private. Hatate expressed a determination to make an impact both for Japan and when he returns to Celtic, emphasizing his commitment to improving his performances.
Reo Hatate, in an interview with *Super World Soccer*, shared his focus on Japan’s World Cup qualification and his role within the team. He emphasized that his top priority is for Japan to succeed in qualifying, even if that means playing a supporting role rather than being in the spotlight. Hatate stated, “If I were to play, I would want to play in the shadows. If I can play in the shadows, I want to do what I always do in my own team [Celtic], plus what is required of me in this team.”
Since making his international debut in a 1-1 draw against Vietnam in March 2022, shortly after joining Celtic under then-manager Ange Postecoglou, Hatate has faced challenges securing a consistent place in Japan’s squad. His struggles have been partly due to injuries, including hamstring and calf issues last season, which impacted his form for both club and country.
Now, as he aims to reestablish himself, Hatate knows he has much to prove, especially at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers. With stiff competition in the midfield, he is determined to regain his form and contribute to the success of both his club and national team.
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