BRENDAN RODGERS has admitted Reo Hatate used to “really frustrate” him after his return to Celtic in June 2023.
The Irishman replaced Greek/Aussie Ange Postecoglou who had brought in the midfielder from Kawasaki Frontale in January 2022 after a triple raid on the J-League.
Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi arrived at the same time following the trailblazing path of Kyogo Furuhashi who kicked-started the Japanese revolution with his £4.6million move from Vissel Kobe the previous July.
SMILES BETTER…Reo Hatate and Brendan Rodgers share a joke.
With the midnight Thursday transfer deadline looming, Rodgers has been involved in all sorts of speculation, including suggestions Hatate and Maeda may be targets for other clubs.
The Hoops gaffer was quick to try to defuse such gossip when he said: “I’m trying to get them in, never mind get them out!
“We haven’t had anything for the likes of Reo and that, but, yes, he’s one of the few players in that midfield who can make those incisive passes.
“He’ll give the ball away at times – and that used to really frustrate me when I first started to work with him.
“But I know that’s the risk he plays in his game.”
Analysing Hatate’s spectacular second-half goal to double the champions’ advantage over Aberdeen after Benjamin Nygren’s 27th-minute opener, Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “He’ll produce a moment like that, which is a brilliant finish, and he did that up here last year.
NET PROFIT…Reo Hatate turns away in delight as the ball bounces over the line for Celtic’s second goal in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
“So, yes, we want to build a squad. There are lots of areas in it I’m pleased with, but, of course, there’s other areas that we will focus on and hopefully improve.”
Hatate and Maeda, both 27, have featured regularly in the rumour market over the past season.
The midfielder is under contract until June 2028 while the pacy winger’s terms end 12 months earlier.
It’s clear neither Rodgers nor the Hoops hierarchy are in any mood to sell two of their most valuable assets.
