Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has firmly dismissed claims that midfielder Reo Hatate no longer wants to be at the club, instead attributing the player's struggles to a frustrating loss of form. The Japanese international, who became a fan favourite after his arrival in 2022, has appeared a shadow of his former self this season, particularly following strong transfer links to Italian side Udinese last summer.
Recent Performances Under Scrutiny
Hatate's difficulties were highlighted during Celtic's recent match against Kilmarnock, where he was substituted at half-time as the team conceded two goals in the opening forty-five minutes. This performance followed a needless red card received against Bologna last month, which has led many supporters to question the player's attitude and commitment to the cause.
O'Neill's Firm Defence
When asked directly if Hatate lacks desire to remain at Parkhead, O'Neill responded unequivocally. "I don't think that's the case," stated the manager. "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."
O'Neill acknowledged that some players might be concerned about missing out on World Cup selection this summer, but he doesn't believe this is the root cause of Hatate's problems. "No, I don't think so. I think he's searching for form. I think that's what it is," O'Neill explained.
Player's Personal Frustration
The manager revealed that Hatate has been putting in extra work during training sessions in an attempt to rediscover his best form. "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," O'Neill noted.
"I think he's frustrated with it because of the player that he was. And then he has to find the reasons for it," added the Celtic boss, emphasising the midfielder's personal disappointment with his current performances compared to his previous high standards.
Potential Turning Point
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unavailable for Celtic's upcoming Europa League tie against Stuttgart, O'Neill sees this as a potential opportunity for Hatate to turn his season around. "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."
The manager stressed that ultimately the responsibility lies with the player himself. "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."
Stadium Atmosphere Concerns
In a separate development, O'Neill expressed hope that ongoing discussions between the Celtic board and supporters' groups could soon lead to the team playing in front of full houses again. The Green Brigade remain excluded from the stadium, with their ongoing suspension forming part of broader discussions between interim chairman Brian Wilson and various fan groups who have united as the Celtic Collective.
"A full house here at Celtic Park is something special," said O'Neill, who reported no injury concerns ahead of Thursday's European 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."
The manager recalled a particularly memorable atmosphere during Celtic's UEFA Cup run against Liverpool. "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."
O'Neill acknowledged that some of this atmosphere has been lost recently. "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."
