Reo Hatate of Celtic has been recognized as the SPFL Star Man for the opening weekend of the season, following his exceptional Man of the Match display at Celtic Park on Sunday against Kilmarnock.
Hatate initiated the scoring in the 4-0 triumph and demonstrated remarkable performance throughout the match, particularly in collaboration with his midfield colleague, Matt O’Riley. The official SPFL website characterized Hatate’s contribution as follows:
“Celtic’s title defense in the top flight commenced flawlessly with a 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock. The champions recorded 33 shots on goal, maintained 83 percent possession, and netted two goals in each half. Hatate scored the first goal and was thoroughly commanding in the midfield. He is undoubtedly the standout player in this squad.”
Brendan Rodgers also expressed high praise for Hatate’s performance against Kilmarnock and throughout the pre-season. The Celtic manager commented on the Japanese midfielder, as reported by the Daily Record.
“I believe that what I have observed during pre-season indicates he is of top quality. Last season, I did not witness the player I anticipated at the outset, for various reasons. I was familiar with him and appreciated his playing style. However, he struggled to find his rhythm during last year’s pre-season, which was not what I expected. An injury further disrupted his progress.
“There were brief periods when he joined the team, but not with the consistency I desired. Now, he has returned for pre-season, and given how the previous season concluded, he possesses that confidence. He understands my appreciation for him as a player and is aware of my expectations. I had hoped to see that last season, but that is in the past. He is here now and has been absolutely outstanding since his return. I am genuinely pleased for him.”
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