Reo Hatate has opened up about his mixed experiences with Rangers fans, shedding light on the intense rivalry that he burst onto the scene in.
His debut in the derby, marked by a memorable double endeared him to Celtic supporters.
It was two fantastic goals that Reo Hatate scored that night, sending Celtic fans into a frenzy. Once came from a corner, taking it well after the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box, and another came from outside the box, beating Alan McGregor at his near post.
In an interview with Sportiva in Japan, Hatate recounted the eve of his first derby after joining Celtic for the 2021-22 season. He described an attempt by what he believed to be a Rangers supporter to disrupt Celtic’s preparations with late-night fireworks outside their hotel. Despite this, Celtic emerged victorious the following day, winning 3-0, fueled by Hatate’s impressive performance.
He also opened up on an experience with a Rangers fan, which was quite the opposite of the attempted disruption at the hotel on the eve of the derby.
He said: “When I stayed at the hotel the night before the first derby (after joining the team for the 2021-22 season), I think it was a Rangers fan or supporter who set off fireworks. Probably to keep us from sleeping.
“Then, I scored a goal in the game against Rangers the next day (February 3, 2022), and when I went out the next day, a Rangers fan saw me driving and gave me the finger. That’s when I realized I was playing in Europe.
“You can see that everyone is cheering with pride. For Celtic, everyone has pride as a Celtic fan, and for Rangers, everyone has pride as a Rangers fan.
“For example, a Rangers fan came to repair my house. I knew he had a Rangers logo on his phone. I thought, ‘Oh, is this okay?’ He repaired my house, and he said, ‘I’m proud of this (Rangers).’ He also said, ‘But I’m rooting for you, so do your best.’ I think that fans and supporters of any team have that kind of kindness while being proud.”
