Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate has been praised for his performance in the side’s Champions League group stage clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Having earned just one point from a possible 12, the Glasgow giants needed to win the fixture to try and secure a third placed finish in the group and earn a spot in the UEFA Europa League knockout stages in the New Year.
With Celtic leading 1-0 at half-time thanks to a goal from Giorgos Giakoumakis things were looking rosy for the Scottish champions, but a wonder goal from Mykhaylo Mudryk levelled the clash in the second-half.
The goal came against the run of play, with Celtic dominating the midfield battle generally.
And Hatate came in for praise from Journalist and podcaster Ryan McGinlay, who was buzzing over the 24-year-old.
I’m running out of superlatives to describe Hatate honestly. Absolute world-beater,” McGinlay posted on Twitter.
TIF Thoughts on McGinlay’s comments…
We believe that Hatate has been an impressive presence since his arrival at Celtic Park just before the turn of the year, and his performance in tonight’s Champions League clash will have done nothing to change the opinion of fans who are already impressed with the midfielder.
The Celtic star has already contributed to the side’s Champions League points tally this season, after scoring the club’s only goal in the reverse fixture with Shakhtar earlier in the year in a 1-1 draw.
Therefore, we think that Hatate is justifying the praise that is being heaped on him, and Celtic fans will hope that he remains at Celtic Park for the foreseeable future.