Celtic signed Reo Hatate in the January transfer window, with the midfielder joining up with the Hoops after the winter break.

He set the standard high after his debut. He was on fire against Hibs while fellow new signing Maeda netted the ball just minutes into his debut.

Admittedly, fans had got a tad carried away with Hatate, comparing him to greats like Iniesta but that’s just how good he was.

However, after an impressive couple of games, Hatate’s performance levels started to dip. This was to be expected, after all, he’s just played a full season with an Olympics games in the middle of it. he was bound to be fatigued.

As quoted by Football Scotland, Hatate reflected on the challenging times when he couldn’t match the standard he had set during his opening matches but is confident pre-season has helped him ahead of the new season. The midfielder said;

“That became my standard to play.

“I know it is not easy to perform like that in every game but I try my best to be as close to that standard as I can

“As you know, pre-season has just begun and I would like to improve my fitness gradually.

“During my time off I took enough rest and did individual things away from the football.

“For me, it was important to be refreshed emotionally.

“I spent time with my family and people who are important to me.

“I am focused on each game, to have a good result and to contribute towards the team.”

Reo Hatate is About to Shock Scotland

The midfielder has now had a long rest and is fresh ahead of the new season. He’ll be working hard in pre-season to ensure he’s as ready as he can be for Celtic’s title defence.

Scotland is about to see a top-class player emerge, he’s going to be pivotal in Celtic’s success next season.