Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal in action with Celtic's Reo Hatate
Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate received mass plaudits for his superb display in the Scottish Premiership this weekend.
The Lowdown: Celtic cruise to victory
Ange Postecoglou’s men put Aberdeen to the sword at Parkhead with a dominating performance that maintained their large lead at the top of the SPFL.
Hatate was at the centre of the action, with a goal in either half sealing the three points for the champions as he came in for widespread praise after the final whistle.
The Japan international’s brace took him to eight goals in 33 appearances for the campaign, which is at a greater rate than his record of four in 21 last term.
But it wasn’t just his goals that had the media waxing lyrical, as his dribbling skills clearly set him apart in what was a highly impressive Hoops display.
The Latest: Hatate shines for the Hoops
Praise was everywhere for Hatate following Saturday’s performance, particularly after he doubled Celtic’s lead – captain Callum McGregor had put the home side 1-0 up inside two minutes.
Journalist Sacha Pisani was left raving over the 25-year-old’s footwork for his first goal of the day, which saw him jink himself into a goalscoring position despite being surrounded by Aberdeen defenders in the box.
Sharing footage of this goal, Pisani wrote on Twitter: “Mesmerising footwork from Reo Hatate. Celtic’s Japan international with the Samba feet. Boy, he’s a joy to watch in a Hoops shirt. Class.”
The Verdict: Rangers final in Postecoglou’s sights
Hatate’s rich vein of form could not have come at a better time. With their nine-point lead at the top of the table maintained, attentions can safely turn to next weekend’s Old Firm clash at Hampden Park for the League Cup final.
The victory was Celtic’s ninth in succession across all competitions, and while Rangers were the last team to take points off the Bhoys, they will surely take confidence from the fact they haven’t been beaten by a domestic rival since September’s defeat to St Mirren – while Hatate is clearly at the top of his game at present.
Pisani wasn’t the only one to rave over the midfielder. The Glasgow Times’ Alan Galindo noted Hatate’s ‘stunning’ finishes, while The Celtic Way’s Tony Haggerty was blown away by his ability to drift into space and show composure in key moments, handing him a 9/10 rating in the process.
The stats also back up the praise, as Hatate was far and away Celtic’s highest-rated player on the day with Sofascore giving him a 9.2/10, while he clocked up an 87% passing accuracy, won 8/13 duels and brought up 100 touches – highlighting his influence on the game.
Heading into next week’s showpiece, Postecoglou will surely be brimming with confidence as he has a star in the centre of his Celtic side, which will try to secure a second successive League Cup triumph since the Australian’s arrival.
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