REO HATATE has admitted the heat is on – and that’s the way he likes it!
The Celtic playmaker is hopng to get the nod from Brendan Rodgers to be in at the kick-off for what is certain to be a fascinating encounter against Aberdeen at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon.
Both the champions and this season’s main challengers go into the confrontation with 100 per cent records after seven successive league wins.
The Hoops are at the Premiership pinnacle due to their vastly superior goal difference, but something must give in this head-to-head clash.
Hatate has failed to achieve consistency this time out following an injury-interrupted season which was beset by hamstring and calf problems.
WHAT A BELTER…Reo Hatate accepts the applause of the fans after scoring Celtic’s first Premiership goal of the season in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead in early August.
He was overlooked for the starting elevens for the 6-0 victory over St Johnstone in Perth and the 7-1 nosedive in Dortmund, but came back against Ross County in Dingwall.
However, the Japanese international struggled along with a host of his team-mates before he was removed along with £11million man Arne Engels and Adam Idah in the 61st minute with the visitors trailing 1-0.
On came Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan and Kyogo Furuhashi to revive the side and goals from Alistair Johnston and Nicolas Kuhn turned the scoreline on its head.
Hatate has made certain he will be fit and ready to go if Rodgers launches him into the engine room to face the Dons.
The 26-year-old middle-of-the-park performer has altered his diet and paid special attention to his training regime in a bid to ensure he’s in peak condition.
Hatate, in an interview with Japanese media outlet Pro Lab Channel, said: “The weather is not great in Scotland, so I don’t sweat as much as I would normally.
“I use the sauna to sweat hard and flush away all the waste. I use it quite a lot and I think it helps me when I am tired.
ON THE BALL…Reo Hatate in action against Ross County in Dingwall.
“We have one at the training ground, so I like to take a cold bath and then sauna afterwards.
“I am also very particular about the way I train, so that I can look after my legs.
“It’s a running sport, so your legs naturally become tighter, but I also have to train my upper body.
“I have two matches a week during the season. I focus on fatigue recovery.
“I can’t train hard with heavy weights during the season. I train with light weights. I train with movement and focus on the core.”
Hatate continued: “During the off-season, I use heavier weights and I have a trainer so I can check my condition.
“I am also very careful with what I eat during the season. I have done tests so I know what works for my body. I try to avoid taking things that don’t suit me and actively take what works for me.
“I have tried to change my eating habits, little by little, and that’s been really important for me.
“In the off-season, it’s easier to eat what I want, so I try not to get too stressed about that. But I don’t really eat high-calorie foods or fried foods during the season.”
TAKING A BREATHER…Reo Hatate sits this one out.
After almost three years in the country, Hatate is still attempting to overcome the launguage barrier and the gifted operator added: “It’s important to be able to communicate with the players on and off the pitch.
“I am learning by myself and taking classes. Even if I don’t understand what people are saying to me, it’s important to try to communicate. I talk to people more now than I did when I first came to Scotland. I am a lot less stressed about that now.
“A lot of the players play golf on their days off, but I don’t like golf. I have never played it, so I don’t go to the course.
“On my days off, I talk to people. I watch movies and I go to a cafe. I spend my time relaxing.”
