Celtic’s convincing 4-0 win over Motherwell on Boxing Day wasn’t without its moments of frustration, particularly for midfielder Reo Hatate, who squandered a golden opportunity to extend the Hoops’ lead.
The Japanese international’s hesitation in front of goal led to a missed chance that could have dampened his confidence, but Brendan Rodgers demonstrated his top-tier man-management by taking extra time to console Hatate after the incident.
The chance came from a brilliant sequence of play, starting with Kyogo Furuhashi’s sublime control and layoff to Nicolas Kuhn. Kühn’s quick pass found Hatate in a promising position, but instead of hitting the ball first time with his left foot, Hatate took an extra touch. This allowed three Motherwell defenders to close him down, leaving him off-balance as he attempted the strike.
His effort deflected off a defender, and while the ball fell to Kyogo, the forward wasn’t in position to capitalise, leaving Celtic fans ruing what seemed a certain goal.
Rather than expressing frustration, Rodgers was seen consoling Hatate shortly after the incident. The manager’s decision to take a moment to reassure his midfielder exemplifies his ability to manage individual players within the broader demands of the team.
Later, Hatate was seen discussing the miss with Kyogo Furuhashi, going over the sequence of events and what could have been done differently. This kind of peer-to-peer review shows the collaborative spirit within the squad. Kyogo appeared to offer guidance and support, further underscoring the unity in the Celtic camp.
Top man-management skills from Brendan Rodgers, taking extra time to console Reo Hatate after his missed chance during today’s Celtic – Motherwell game.
Ever the perfectionist, Reo later runs through the miss with Kyogo Furuhashi. pic.twitter.com/HO6wlJLtwh
— The Fast Lovin’ Sin-Soaked Heathen (@fast_sin) December 26, 2024
Despite the missed opportunity, Celtic cruised to a dominant win, with goals from Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kühn, and Hatate himself, who made amends with a stunning strike.
