Celtic’s Reo Hatate wants goals to help win Treble

Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate opened the scoring in the 5-1 rout of Kilmarnock. The Japanese star cut in on his right foot before curling in an incredible effort to give Brendan Rodgers’ side the lead. With focus switching to Sunday’s Scottish Cup Semi Final against St Johnstone, Hatate has admitted that he wants to score at the National Stadium.

Speaking to Celtic TV, Hatate admitted that he is eyeing a goal at Hampden as he looks to add to the good memories he has at the National Stadium.

“I’ve never scored a goal in Hampden Park, so I want to try to score a goal in the next game.

“I’ve got good memories at Hampden Park, so I want to win the next game.”

Reo was then asked what memories stuck out for him at Hampden and he was quick to reply with the recent trip, the penalties win over Rangers.

“I think the League Cup final from this season,” he said.

“We played against Rangers and it was 3-3. We went to penalties and it was a hard game. I played the full game, it was a tough game but we won the League Cup and it made me most happy.”

St Johnstone proved in the game at McDiarmid Park that they will not be a pushover as they look to battle for their top flight status. However, the Scottish Cup Semi Final will be a free hit for the Perth club. Celtic will be overwhelming favourites to seal their place in the Final but that result will remind Brendan’s side that they cannot be complacent.

Hatate has been a key figure in Brendan’s midfield, continuing after Ange left for Spurs. It was expected that the Japanese Internationalist would look to follow the manager that brought him to Scotland down to England it he has penned a long term deal and appears to be settled at Celtic.