Without Jota and Hatate, Celtic lack creativity, that needs addressed

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The Celtic Star

·3. Juni 2025

Without Jota and Hatate, Celtic lack creativity, that needs addressed

With Jota already sidelined by long term injury it was a big hit to Celtic’s creativity to see Reo Hatate get injured at Pittodrie, after coming on as a late substitute in a dead rubber Scottish Premiership match, just prior to the Scottish Cup final…

Reo Hatate is visibly upset Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

When Celtic eventually succumbed to a penalty kicks defeat at Hampden, the post-mortem understandably considered a lack of creativity in the team following the loss of Celtic’s two main inventive forces.

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We have a squad of athletic players, a sprinkling of pacey players in some positions and big physical specimens in others.

Brendan Rodgers, to my eyes at least, appears to be gearing his squad to being able to match the physicality of the big European clubs with Champions League football in mind and build a counter attacking team which can transition at pace. I feel he is only part way to achieving that aim and we can expect further, strength, power, and recovery pace in this summer’s recruits.

Brendan Rodgers talks to Reo Hatate . Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

I have no problem with the manager’s position in theory

I have no problem with the manager’s position in theory, as to last 90 to 100 minutes against physical sides is a big ask, but are we doing so at the expense of imagination and innovation and will we struggle to find the right balance of matching European aggression on the big stage and unlocking low block defences at home?

Rodgers has often stated that passing the ball quickly and varying the point of attacks can open stubborn defences, as tired legs lead to tired minds and as concentration drops openings ultimately present themselves. However, as we saw with the last two games of last season, against St Mirren and Aberdeen, sometimes you need a scalpel when the hacksaw lacks the subtlety required. You can be assured other Scottish top flight teams will have noticed.

It’s difficult to see real creativity in the squad bar Jota and Hatate

It’s difficult to see real creativity in the squad bar Jota, Hatate and to a lesser extent Luke McCowan – who doesn’t quite seem to have fully convinced the manager he’s a worthy starter, rather than a finisher of games, ironically this may be due to his lack of physical presence and ball protection.

Luke McCowan celebrates. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

On the wing James Forrest could arguably be considered creative now he has adapted his game in the winter of his career. Meanwhile Yang could arguably fit the description. However, in both those latter cases I think you are pushing your luck to describe them as real creative types in the Jota mould and neither can be relied upon to produce a final product consistently in the case of Yang, or stay available for selection, as has often been the issue with Forrest over the years.

Jota and Reo Hatate celebrate. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

With our superstar from Portugal perhaps unlikely to return to the Celtic team until next year and with no real news on a timescale for Reo Hatate’s return, nor his future at the club should he be fit enough for selection next season, some central midfield creativity may well need to be sourced, although this may be at odds with the manager’s recruitment priorities.

Celtic midfield is somewhat one-paced

The first-choice Celtic central midfield three already suffers with being somewhat one-paced, something at odds with the managers view of a team being built for quick transitions, but if we are to persist with the current approach, ball carrying ability, impressive acceleration if not outright pace may be worth considering in the immediate absence of genuine creativity,, but whoever comes in there is more than a little scope for some real inventiveness being added to the mix. If Reo Hatate was to move on that need would become even more acute.

Niall J

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