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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.
More must-reads:
- Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba suspended for skipping MLS All-Star Game
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Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba suspended for skipping MLS All-Star Game
Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will be suspended for their upcoming Major League Soccer match against FC Cincinnati after both skipped the 2025 MLS All-Star Game without warning. "Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match," MLS said in a statement. Messi and Alba were both selected for the 2025 MLS All-Star team in the first round of voting. They remained on the All-Star roster until mere hours before the All-Star game kickoff, when it became apparent that neither had traveled to Austin for the match. The All-Star game was scheduled for July 23; Miami knew it had a crucial Eastern Conference clash against FC Cincinnati a few days later on July 26. Cincinnati's biggest stars, defender Miles Robinson and attacker Evander, were both slated to appear in the All-Star game. Haunted by its heavy defeat to Cincinnati earlier in the season and hungry for some advantage — any advantage — over its rival, Miami appears to have made a bet here. It kept its players out of the All-Star game, gave them an extra few days of rest, and gambled that MLS wouldn't dare punish its big-name stars. That gamble did not pay off. "I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don’t think there’s a player – or anyone – who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision," said MLS commissioner Don Garber. "Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision." MLS has done the right thing here by hewing close to its own policy. If Cincinnati had pulled the same stunt with Evander and Robinson, MLS would've suspended them without question; Messi, Alba and Miami should not be granted an exception simply because of their global fame. But still, there are important questions to be asked here about fixture pile-up in the middle of the MLS season. The majority of teams in MLS had competitive matches scheduled four days before and three days after the All-Star Game, many in far-flung cities. Asking any soccer player to compete in, say, New York on Saturday, Austin on Wednesday and Miami on Saturday, as Inter Miami's All-Stars were expected to do, is pushing it. Asking 38-year-old Lionel Messi to do that is borderline unconscionable. It's hardly surprising that he and Miami conspired to skip the middle leg of their schedule. It's just too much travel — and too much action — for a player of Messi's age and caliber. Miami and its players deserve to be punished for breaking the rules, but the All-Star Game schedule needs a rethink, too. "We’re going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward," Garber said. "I’m committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve." Inter Miami will face FC Cincinnati — its biggest rival in the Eastern Conference this season — without Messi and Alba on Saturday.
Aaron Boone Makes Feelings Clear After Yankees’ Big Trade
The New York Yankees didn't come into the season with the strongest third base situation, and it only got worse over time. They converted traditional second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the hot corner after getting him at the Trade Deadline last season and installed a timeshare with him, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera there in 2025. However, the latter player broke his ankle on May 12, and the Yankees released the now 37-year-old LeMahieu on July 10. Chisholm was primarily back at second at that point, so this left Peraza and Jorbit Vivas as their only true remaining third basemen. With Peraza hitting .147 and Vivas hitting .164, it was clear what the team's biggest need was. That's why it acquired veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. New York manager Aaron Boone gave his thoughts about the 30-year-old before Friday's bout with the Philadelphia Phillies, via SNY. "I know there's real offensive potential there. I know he's had real offensive success, as well as some struggles there over the last calendar year or two," he said. "It seems like over the last month he's really started swinging the bat like he's capable of. He can impact the ball, he can control the strike zone, he's had some swing-and-misses that have probably hurt him a little bit." "But then he can really defend over there," he continued. "The handful of times that we've played against them that I watch him, you're like, 'That's what it should look like over there.' He moves really well and has that prototypical good third base thing." McMahon is slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 homers and 35 RBI over 100 games this season. He also has a .978 fielding percentage and six errors. Right-handed pitcher Will Warren (6-5, 4.91 ERA) will start for the Yankees against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.75 ERA) on Friday.
Paula Badosa hints at rocky relationship between ex-boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas and father, Apostolos
Having been in an on and off relationship for over two years, Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas are quite familiar with each other and their families. It comes as no surprise when the Spanish WTA star appeared to be in agreement with a statement by former player Ivan Ljubicic, where the Croat urged parents of tennis stars to focus less on tennis and more on raising their kids. The high-profile couple made their relationship public in May 2023, and were seen at each other's matches. A year later, they would take to social media to announce they had split ways, only to get back together three weeks later. Known for his volatility on the court, Tsitsipas would engage in a rather heated exchange with his father Apostolos during an opening round loss against Kei Nishikori at the 2024 Canadian Open. The elder Tsitsipas was acting as Stefanos coach at that point, and the Greek star would later take shots at his father in his post-match conference. However, Tsitsipas would later reveal he had apologized to his father soon after the incident. In an interview with SDNA, Tsitsipas stated both men had a long conversation, during which they aired their grievances and the former World No.3 admitted to apologizing to his dad. Badosa co-signs statement by Ljubicic "We discussed it, from my side I had to apologize because it was a big mistake on my part," said Tsitsipas to SDNA. "We have found a new line of communication and a way to talk to each other, so that such things don't happen again and such tensions don't arise again." Ivan Ljubicic, former player who would later coach Roger Federer during the tail end of his career, would chime in on the role of tennis parents, a day after Jannik Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. "Following last night, second note to parents: your role is CRUCIAL," said Ljubicic. "Your responsibility is to build independent, responsible, strong human beings. Let the professionals do their job, make sure they have all they need. I promise that this is the best formula." Soon after Tsitsipas' interview with SDNA was published, Badosa would return to Ljubicic's post and express her support. "Soooo good ", wrote the Spanish WTA star on Twitter. Although Badosa did not mention Apostolos specifically, the elder Tsitsipas has received backlash for being overbearing towards Stefanos.
Former Los Angeles Lakers Standout Is Still A Free Agent
Talen Horton-Tucker spent the 2024-25 season playing for the Chicago Bulls. He finished the year with averages of 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest while shooting 45.7% from the field and 33.6% from the three-point range in 58 games. This summer, Horton-Tucker became a free agent who is available to sign with any team in the league. On July 26, he still remains unsigned. Horton-Tucker was the 46th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Iowa State. He spent the first three years of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. During that span, Horton-Tucker became a fan-favorite. Via Ballislife.com (on December 14, 2020): "20-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker put on a show in the Lakers win over the Clippers! 33 PTS 11/17 FG 4/5 3PT 10 REB 4 AST 4 STL" Horton-Tucker has also spent time with the Utah Jazz (in addition to the Bulls and Lakers) over six seasons. The 24-year-old has career averages of 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest while shooting 42.7% from the field and 29.9% from the three-point range in 305 games. Via Legion Hoops (on April 8, 2022): "Talen Horton-Tucker as the Lakers’ first option tonight: 40 (!!!) points 54% FG 4 steals 3 assists 3 rebounds" As for the Bulls, they finished the 2024-25 season as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 39-43 record. They missed the NBA playoffs for the third straight season.
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