Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda, two key members of Celtic’s Japanese contingent, have been called up by Hajime Moriyasu for Japan’s World Cup qualifying double-header against China and Bahrain.
Both players have been instrumental for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season, helping the Bhoys secure an early lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
However, despite their impressive club form, Hatate and Maeda experienced contrasting fortunes in Japan’s recent 7-0 demolition of China.
Maeda came off the bench to find the back of the net, adding to his growing reputation on the international stage. Hatate, on the other hand, wasn’t even included in the matchday squad, unable to add to his nine caps for the Samurai Blue.
As Japan prepare for their crucial clash against Bahrain, Hatate has broken his silence on being left out of the squad for the China game. His comments offer a glimpse into the mindset of a player determined to improve and prove his worth on the international stage.
Reo Hatate’s reaction to omission against China:
Speaking to Gekisaka (via DeepL translation), Hatate gave a blunt self-assessment, attributing his omission to a lack of ability. His response reflected a hunger to improve and a vow to force his way back into Moriyasu’s plans.
“I simply felt strong when I watched it. It can’t be helped that it’s over, but I think it was my lack of ability that kept me out. If I had the ability, I would have been able to play in the games and make the squad, so I think my lack of ability is the reason for this result. I think this result is due to my lack of ability. I want to do well for myself.
“If I can be witty plus something else, I think I will get better and better. I want to be conscious of that.”
Hatate continued, “We have a lot of quality players in attack, and they played with confidence, which was expressed in the game. We have no choice but to turn this difficult position into a further leap forward.”
Reo Hatate will only go from strength to strength
Though translations can sometimes obscure nuance, it’s clear Hatate is his own harshest critic. Yet, most Celtic supporters would agree that he’s being overly self-critical. The 26-year-old has been a driving force in Rodgers’ midfield this season, scoring twice in his opening five league appearances.
Upon returning from international duty, Hatate is expected to continue his influential role in Celtic’s domestic campaign, as well as their push in the Champions League.
His form for the Hoops has been excellent, and he will undoubtedly be crucial as Celtic look to maintain their strong start to the season.
While he’s been tough on himself, Hatate has every reason to believe he’ll soon add to his tally of Japan caps. With the game against Bahrain looming, he has a chance to show his international credentials once again before heading back to Glasgow to lead from the front for Rodgers’ side.