Martin O’Neill has shot down suggestions that Reo Hatate doesn’t want to be at Celtic any more by insisting the midfielder is frustrated over his current form.
The Japanese was a star of the team for several years following his arrival in 2022 but has looked a shadow of his former self after being strongly linked with a move to Udinese last summer.
Hatate was substituted at half-time against Kilmarnock last Sunday as O’Neill’s side lost two goals in the opening 45 minutes. After picking up a needless red card in Bologna last month, the player’s attitude and desire have also been widely questioned by supporters.
Asked bluntly if Hatate does not want to be a part of things at Parkhead, O’Neill replied: ‘I don’t think that’s the case. It might have existed in the last couple of months or something. But, since the window (has closed), he just has to try to regain form. He has said to me he wants to really knuckle down.
‘Some of these lads are maybe concerned about not getting into World Cup squads in the summertime.
‘That eventually will be a by-product of what you do here. He’s got to really knuckle down and be the player he was two years ago.’
Reo Hatate has been a shadow of the player who thrilled Celtic fans on his arrival in 2022
Martin O’Neill says the Japanese midfielder admits he is frustrated with his form
Hatate was taken off at half-time against Kilmarnock after another patchy performance
O’Neill doesn’t feel that the prospect of missing out on the World Cup is the root of Hatate’s problem, though.
‘No, I don’t think so. I think he’s searching for form. I think that’s what it is.
‘And, in fairness to the lad, he wants to stay for extra. He wants to do things. He’s not the first one to leave the pitch at the end (of training).
‘I think he’s frustrated with it because of the player that he was. And then he has to find the reasons for it.’
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unavailable for the visit of Stuttgart this evening, O’Neill is optimistic that the Europa League tie can be a turning point for the player.
‘If he puts his mind to it,’ said O’Neill. ‘We’ll see. I haven’t picked a side yet. But I think he knows if he was sat here now with you, and had an interpreter, he’d be saying the same thing.
‘He has to search for this form himself. And eventually, you can talk until you’re blue in the face, but players have to try and sort it out.
‘He wants the full commitment now, between now and the end of the season. And that’s what he wants to do.”
Japanese star Hatate has been doing a lot of soul searching over his loss of form
His needless red card against Bologna last month infuriated Celtic supporters
Hatate tries to put his stamp on proceedings in recent game with Motherwell
On a separate matter, O’Neill is hopeful that discussions between the Celtic board and supporters’ groups can soon lead to the team playing in front of full houses again.
The Green Brigade remain locked out of the stadium, but their ongoing suspension has been one of several issues on the agenda as interim chairman Brian Wilson meets with various disaffected groups who have formed the Celtic Collective.
‘A full house here at Celtic Park is something special,’ said O’Neill, who reported no injury concerns for Thursday’s match.
‘In every European night that I’ve had in the past, teams I think in general, and I’m talking about the really major sides, were still very, very concerned about coming here with the passion, the drive and the noise that’s made.
‘I remember our game against Liverpool in that UEFA Cup run, John Robertson, my old friend, was standing beside me and speaking to me. I couldn’t hear a word he was saying for the first 10 or 15 minutes, it was so loud.
‘So, little bits have been lost from that and that’s regrettable, to use your word. I think there have been some discussions, which I obviously wasn’t party to. But I think that there’s been some progress made.’
