Reo Hatate has clear Celtic mission brief as he refuses to look back in anger at Pape Gueye tackle
Reo Hatate is a man on a mission at Celtic this season and the clock is ticking. And the midfielder is not going to waste a second.
Hatate is not usually a player that struggled for motivation but he's got added incentive to bust a gut for the next 12 months.
The 27-year-old is hooked on the winning feeling with the Hoops but he also has his sights on the World Cup in North America next summer.
And he fears this could be his LAST chance of being part of the biggest show on the planet.
Hatate is a regular in the Japan squad but he's not taking his place for granted.
The playmaker is going be like a man possessed every single day to make sure he doesn't miss out.
Hatate said: 'It's going to be very important what you build up on a daily or weekly basis. 'I am going to work hard in every single training session and game because that is what it will take to get there.
'It is a big dream of mine. Of course it is. The World Cup is very important.
'It's difficult to say what it would mean to me to be part of it with Japan.
'But this could be my last chance. I will be 29-years old next year, so the next time I will be almost 33.
'I don't know how I will be at that point. But I do know I will do everything I can to get there.
'My mindset will be that this is my last chance so I will give everything.'
A fired up Hatate is good news for Celtic. He also brushed off any talk around him leaving the club.
His focus is fully on Celts, starting the season strongly and adding to his already impressive roll of honour.
Hatate has won eight medals in his three-and-a-half years but he's not a man who looks in the rear view mirror.
There's no looking back in anger at the way his season ended early last time out either.
Hatate was forced to miss the Scottish Cup Final after a needless late tackle by Aberdeen's Papa Gueye when the Dons were already 5-1 down.
The Japan star has no bad feelings about the Pittodrie man though and the hard thing for humble star was the feeling he was letting down fans by not being able to play.
Hatate is back firing now and notched in Saturday's friendly defeat to Estrela in Portugal.
Speaking at Celtic's pre-season camp on the outskirts of Lisbon, he said: 'I feel good. My fitness is getting better and we have had a lot of good coaching.
'There's no frustration – I am just looking forward to the new season.
'The worst thing about being injured is I felt like I let the team down. There were games left to win trophies and I couldn't do anything to help.
'That was the hard part for me.
'I wouldn't say I was angry at the tackle. It's all in the past but I would hope something similar doesn't happen in the future.
'I have been training very hard and my conditioning will improve. I am always looking to improve my game and that is my hope for the new season.
'I have won a lot of titles at Celtic but you always want to win more. Whenever there is a chance to lift a trophy you need to go for it. I am still hungry for more.'
Hatate is also preparing to welcome another Japan star into the Celtic fold. The Hoops snapped up defender Hayato Inamura for his homeland this summer and striker Shin Yamada is expected to join up at the end of the week.
Hatate was warned the new boys not to be fooled by the sensational weather at the weekend but while it might always be sunny in Scotland, there is a bright future for him at the club.
He said: 'I must admit I don't know him (Shin). I don't know about his situation but I do know that any player who comes to Celtic it is a very good move for their reputations.
'It is a great club that competed for titles and in Europe. If he is a player who comes to us then I will hopefully have a good relationship with him on the pitch and I will try to create the chances for him.'
Hatate is convinced Yamada can settle in Scotland just as he has done – even if the lingo is still a struggle at times.
When asked about life in Glasgow, he joked: ''There's no sun! I am used to it now, so it's not a problem. I enjoy my life in Scotland.
'It's very busy with games and training so it's not like I have a lot of time to do go places and do tourist things during the season.
'But I like to go to restaurants or coffee shops, even just got for walks and enjoy the nice scenery and views.
'I have already warned Hayato about the weather!
'I will try to help him as much as possible with settling in Scotland. When I arrived it was nice to have players such as Kyogo and Daizen here, so am I'm sure it will be easier for him.
'There is a big difference coming to Scotland. The language is different most of all!
'My English is fine now but it can still sometimes be tricky with the Scottish boys.
'I might say one thing on the pitch and they come back with 10 things! That takes a while to get used to.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
20 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Wales consider cutting number of professional rugby teams in half
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed that it will consider the possibility of cutting two regional men's teams before the 2027-28 season. A statement from the WRU on Monday afternoon heralded a formal consultation and engagement process with stakeholders, including players and staff from Cardiff, the Dragons, the Ospreys and the Scarlets, that will take place over August and September and lead to a restructure. It is said to be covering 'the entire high-performance structure' of the game in Wales from age-grade pathways to professional clubs and its results will be confirmed in October. The WRU board has already voiced its view that it does not see the current model of four equally-funded regional sides continuing, but Monday's statement suggested that Wales could end up with two professional men's teams as a result of these discussions. Among the 'key potential developments to be consulted' during the engagement process was listed 'whether there should be a reduction to three or two regional men's teams to ensure that we have the teams that can compete at the top of the professional game'. Days after Wales beat Japan 31-22 in Kobe to halt a run of 18 successive Test match losses that stretched back to the 2023 World Cup, the WRU statement delivered the reality check that 'Welsh rugby has experienced a deterioration in performance on and off the field and, statistically, has just had its worst season ever in its senior men's game'. The WRU signalled its intention to strike upon a 'more radical strategy' to address a situation that 'isn't currently financially sustainable given the investment required'. Funding to strengthen Super Rygbi Cymru, a semi-professional competition, was named as another aspect of the discussions. Dave Reddin, who has worked with Sir Clive Woodward and Sir Gareth Southgate in previous roles with England and the Football Association, was unveiled as the WRU's new director of rugby and elite performance in April. A full-time successor to Warren Gatland, who left his role as head coach in February, is yet to be determined. Matt Sherratt continued in a caretaker capacity for the trip to Japan. Reddin has been tasked with recruiting for this position and has reportedly identified a suitable candidate.
The Herald Scotland
32 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Ben Stokes cheers Jofra Archer's ‘amazing effort' as England edge out India
It was Archer's first Test after a four-and-a-half-year absence and Stokes went with a hunch to hand him the ball first thing when India resumed on 58 for four chasing 193 on the final day. Archer claimed the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant, knocking his off-stump out of the ground, then took a terrific catch off his own bowling to see off Washington Sundar and put England on top. The hosts had a few nervy moments before moving 2-1 up in the series, with two to play, but Stokes admitted Archer's involvement went a long way to swinging things in their favour. 'I just had this gut feeling that something was going to happen in Jof's first time back in the Test match team, sometimes your gut works, I guess,' England captain Stokes said at the presentation ceremony. 'It's six years to the day (since the 2019 World Cup final) and Jof had a major part in that. I just had one of those feelings that he was going to do something special and he managed to crack the game open with those two wickets. 'Every time he gets announced on the tannoy that he's going to bowl, you just hear the ground erupt and when he turns it on, the feeling in the game just changes. What an amazing effort from him to get through those overs. He got some crucial wickets for us and it's great to have him back.' 77 runs with the bat 🏏44-8-111-5 with the ball 🔴Player of the Match 🏅 Shift. — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 14, 2025 Stokes admitted he was a 'shadow' of his normal self following a hard five days at Headingley but he went up a notch at the home of cricket. He followed up a nine-over spell in the morning session, in which he ended the dogged resistance of KL Rahul, with a 10-over burst after lunch, making the only breakthrough in the session by winkling out the resolute Jasprit Bumrah. 'I thought I'd taken myself to some pretty dark places before but today was…but look, bowling to win a Test match for your country, if that doesn't get you up, I don't know what does,' Stokes said. Stokes, whose 77 runs and five wickets across the Test as well as the crucial first-innings run out of Pant saw him receive the player of the match award, added: 'I'm not going to lie, I cannot wait to just lie on my bed for four days and then be raring to go for (next week's fourth Test at) Manchester.' India captain Shubman Gill was optimistic the tourists would get over the line and in Ravindra Jadeja, who made 61 not out off 181 balls, they had hope but he ran out of partners. 'There was plenty of batting left in our side so I was pretty confident this morning but England kept attacking,' Gill said. 'They played better than us.'
Daily Record
35 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Rangers 'reject' first Hamza Igamane bid from Lille as exact difference in transfer valuation finally made clear
The deal had been stuck in limbo but the French club appear to have finally made their move Rangers have reportedly turned down Lille's first offer for Hamza Igamane after they French club finally made their move. Igamane impressed in his debut Ibrox campaign - netting 16 goals for the Light Blues after a £1.7million move from AS FAR last summer. That has sparked discussions with the Ligue 1 side over a potential move - with And Rangers new owners 49ers Enterprises are determined to land a bumper profit in the 22-year-old with the Glasgow giants holding out for a £15million payday. And while Igamane has already agreed personal terms over a move no formal bid has been tabled - with Lille president Olivier Letang previously admitting the club were in no hurry to get a deal done. But La Voix Des Sports report that the club have finally made a formal move with a £13million offer put on the table - but the Scottish Premiership side have reportedly stuck to their valuation and turned down the offer. Lille are said to feel a deal is "stuck" at this stage with Rangers now unwilling to lose the striker before their Champions League qualifier with Panathinaikos next Tuesday. Rangers "will be given time" to assess the situation following their clash with the Greek side and find a replacement - but it is expected a deal could be done should they "raise their bids" Speaking about the frontman last week, Lille supremo Olivier Letang confirmed interest with a deal deadlocked: "He is indeed a player we are following, but we have not yet made any offers to his club." Rangers' boss Russell Martin has been unmoved by the speculation with Igamane reporting for the pre-season training camp at St George's Park. However, the Morocco international was a notable absentee from the team that played in a closed-door friendly against Barnsley to round off the week of training - missing the clash with the Tykes alongside Cyriel Dessers, who has also been tipped for a move to AEK, You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
