Celtic have 'special' star on their books as insider claims 'real asset' is approaching his peak
Celtic captain Callum McGregor has given his verdict on a Hoops star who is reaching his top level
Celtic fought back to earn a point in the Old Firm on Sunday as Rangers were made to pay for allowing their bitter rivals back into the game at Ibrox.
The Gers led 2-0 at the break but saw their lead dissipated as both Glasgow sides left with a point which does little to aid either of their Scottish Premiership title challenges. Celtic have also now joined Rangers in being out of Europe, after they were beaten 4-2 across two legs by Bundesliga side Stuttgart in their Europa League knockout play-off last 16.
This came despite an impressive 1-0 victory away in Germany in the second leg, as the damage had already been done at Parkhead. The reigning champions are looking to make it five league titles on the spin but are currently eight points off the top, albeit with a game in hand over both Hearts and second-place Rangers.
Callum McGregor praises ‘special’ team-mate
Reo Hatate scored the Celtic equaliser at Ibrox over the weekend and Hoops captain Callum McGregor has been quick to pile the praise on the Japanese, who he claims is a high-level player beginning to reach his peak with the Hoops.
McGregor told The Herald: “He’s a player that, you know, can do special things. When he comes in, and he plays the way he does today, then you see him, he’s a real high-level player, and you have to stay on top of him all the time to get the best out of him.
“And I think the last two games, Stuttgart and today, he was outstanding. So if that’s him just starting to creep [up] in terms of levels, and for sure we will need everyone at their best, but especially a player like him, he’s a special player, and if you can get him firing, then he’s a real asset.”
Chris Sutton on Hatate’s Old Firm performance
Hatate came on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at half-time and stood out, registering four shots on target, two chances created, three defensive contributions and an XG on target of 2.46.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton wrote on X on the 28-year-old’s performance: “A game of two halves! Extraordinary game… Reo Hatate may have sulked all season but he showed what a top player he can be. Outstanding performance and he gave Celtic control. Fair play to him. Martin proactive with his subs and that was key. Great recovery from Celtic.”
Meanwhile McGregor added on Oxlade-Chamberlain: "Obviously, Alex has just come in," he said. "[It's] really difficult to get up to speed, and this game's hard enough when you're fully fit, and you're like in the rhythm and everything else, it's still a difficult game to play.
"So he's obviously still getting to that kind of level in terms of match sharpness, and again that'll help him get even better and just keep moving, keep moving, keep learning the sort of way the team plays and moves and all these things. And for sure, he'll be better for that experience, and we will need him. Absolutely. He's a top-class player, has won a lot in the game as well, so we'll need that experience and quality."