Hatate family celebrations after Reo’s first Champions League goal for Celtic

The Japanese midfielder struck from close distance during Celtic’s memorable 3-1 victory against Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig at Celtic Park in November last year. Despite falling behind early, Brendan Rodgers’ side turned the tide before halftime courtesy of a rapid double from Nicolas Kuhn.

Considered one of their standout displays in Europe’s elite club competition in recent years, Celtic outclassed Marco Rose’s side, with Hatate securing the victory with a goal 18 minutes from time.

“I scored my first Champions League goal in that match,” Reo Hatate 

And, Hatate has revealed his mother watched on from the stands, visibly moved by the moment. Speaking to Sportiva, the 27 year-old said: “My wife told me that on November 5th last year, my mother came to Celtic Park to watch the fourth round of the Champions League match against Leipzig and cried when she saw me entering the pitch with the Champions League anthem playing.”

“I scored my first Champions League goal in that match, and when my wife saw my mother, she cried again. I wonder if I was able to show my parents some gratitude.”

“I was happy to score a goal in a game that my mother came to watch. At the same time, I wanted to show her more success and make her happy. She definitely inherited her mother’s ability to pursue one thing to the fullest. Just like her mother, she wants to continue to pursue her game to the fullest and grow.”

With Hatate’s successful football career keeping him far from Japan, family visits are few and far between – but his mother never misses a Celtic game, whether it’s at home or on the road.

Reo’s mum never misses a Celtic match, watching in real-time despite the time difference

“My mother is the one I keep in contact with more than anyone else in my family,” he said. “Even after I started playing for Celtic, she watches every game in real time, despite the time difference between Japan and me, and always sends me a message after the game.”

“The messages are simple things like ‘I’m glad you won’ or ‘Nice goal’, but they arrive almost every time after a game, and it makes me think, ‘She’s always watching me’, or ‘She was cheering for me today, too’. At the same time, I realise that no matter how old I get, I’m still a child to my mother, and I’m still grateful for her support.”

Hatate added: “By the way, my mother has now become a big fan of soccer, and since I started playing for Celtic, she has become interested in so-called overseas soccer.”

“I heard that she watches other popular matches such as the UEFA Champions League besides Celtic games, so I think she will probably get up early in the morning to watch this season’s Champions League final, Paris Saint-Germain vs. Inter, on TV.”

Unfortunately Reo Hatate is unavailable for this Saturday’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park against Aberdeen through injury but could pick up his ninth winners medal as a Celtic player should the Hoops secure the Treble.

Brendan Rodgers has indicated that the injury is not long-term and he should be fine for preseason training when that comes around, probably at the end of next month.  There has been growing speculation of clubs in Italy and Germany interested in signing the Celtic midfield star but there’s also talk of a new long-term contract to keep him at Celtic.

After seeing the troubles that Kyogo has had to endure after leaving Celtic, perhaps Reo will decide to continue playing his football at Celtic? Let’s hope so.

Conor Spence

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