REO HATATE has revealed he has a personal goal when Celtic play St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday – to score a goal!
The Japanese midfielder has rifled in 10 strikes this season – including a spectacular 25-yarder to open the scoring in the 5-1 mauling of Kilmarnock at Parkhead last weekend – but has yet to score in the holders’ Scottish Cup journey.
Hatate hasn’t featured on the goal lists as Brendan Rodgers’ side have overcome Killie (2-1), Raith Rovers (5-0) and Hibs (2-0) on their way to the last-four encounter with the Perth club.
In fact, the 27-year-old playmaker admitted: “I have never scored a goal at Hampden Park.
SMILES BETTER…Reo Hatate with this season’s League Cup.
“I want to try and score a goal in the next game because it is so important to win this one.”
Hatate, though, does have fond recollections of performing in the national stadium and has figured in some crucial games at the arena since he arrived at Parkhead along with Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi in January 2022.
He played a major role in the team’s 2-1 League Cup Final win over Ibrox opposition just over a year after signing when his countryman Kyogo Furuhashi netted a double, the winner coming from an astute pass from the midfielder.
Hatate played his part later that season as Celtic beat Inverness Caley Thistle 3-1 in the Scottish Cup Final to seal a world record eighth treble.
And the Hoops are edging closer to overtaking their own historic achievement if they can complete another glittering silverware clean sweep with St Johnstone standing in the way of a grand finale against Aberdeen or Hearts at Hampden on Saturday May 24.
Hatate, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I have good memories at Hampden Park.
“Especially, the League Cup Final from this season. We played against Rangers and it was 3-3.
SMILES BETTER…Reo Hatate with last season’s Scottish Cup.
“We went to penalties and it was hard. I played the full game. It was a tough, but we won and it made me most happy.”
Clearly, Hatate does not include his penalty-kick strike in his team’s 5-4 spot-kick shoot-out when he states he has yet to score at the ground!
Now his focus is on Sunday and he said matter-of-factly: “I want to win the Scottish Cup.
“We lost against St Johnstone in the last game in the league. I have to put in hard work in this one and do my best for the team.
“For me, it’s important to score and I will do my best in this game.”
