“I wouldn’t say I was angry at the tackle. It’s all in the past,” Reo Hatate | OneFootball

Reo Hatate isn’t looking back in anger—one for all you Oasis fans sleeping off the Manchester weekend hangovers today – instead he’s powering forward with renewed purpose, after missing the showpiece occasion at the end of last season.

Reo Hatate looks angry. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The Japanese midfielder missed the Scottish Cup Final last season due to a reckless late challenge from Aberdeen’s Papa Gueye, with Celtic cruising at 5-1. But if fans expected bitterness or finger-pointing, they clearly don’t know Reo. It seems he’ll leave the fans to do that, as he prefers to look forward rather than back.

“I wouldn’t say I was angry at the tackle. It’s all in the past,” Hatate said with typical humility, as reported in Daily Record. “But I would hope something similar doesn’t happen in the future.”

Reo Hatate of Celtic scores to give Celtic a 3-1 lead. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, 10 May 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

The real pain for Hatate wasn’t physical. It was emotional. Being ruled out of such a significant finale hurt—but not in a selfish way. His main worry? That he let down the team and the supporters. Yes, he’s the guy who missed the Cup Final and it is his teammates and the fans he’s more concerned about. You can’t help but admire an attitude like that.

“The worst thing about being injured is I felt like I let the team down,” he said. “There were games left to win trophies and I couldn’t do anything to help. That was the hard part for me.”

Now, with Celtic in Portugal for pre-season, Hatate looks to be right back in rhythm. He bagged a goal in the friendly against Estrela and looked sharp across the park, in fact alongside James Forrest he was one of Celtic’s best performers in Lisbon on Saturday. More importantly however, he feels like himself again.

Reo Hatate is pictured with the Scottish Premiership trophy after the season s final match against St. Mirren on May 17, 2025. Photo IMAGO

“I feel good. My fitness is getting better and we have had a lot of good coaching,” he said. “There’s no frustration – I am just looking forward to the new season.”

That’s an ominous sign for Celtic’s rivals. A fit and focused Reo Hatate has always been one of the Celtic’s most dynamic talents—capable of turning defence into attack in a flash and unlocking opposition defences with a moment of vision.

With a World Cup spot in his sights, there’s more to play for than ever. But for now, it’s Celtic first.

Reo Hatate at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Hatate remains fully committed to adding more silverware to his collection in the Hoops—and he’s using last season’s heartbreak as motivation.

“I have been training very hard and my conditioning will improve. I am always looking to improve my game,” he said. “I have already won a lot, but you always want more.”

There’s no chip on the shoulder – he’ll leave that to us. Instead, it is just calm determination. As it always is with Reo Hatate.

Niall J

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