Brendan Rodgers made a decision to substitute Reo Hatate during Saturday’s match against Rangers, citing the midfielder’s “sloppy and loose” performance as the reason. Despite Celtic’s 2-1 victory putting them on the verge of clinching another Scottish Premiership title, Rodgers was critical of Hatate’s struggles to maintain composure on the field.
At 80 minutes, Hatate was replaced by Tomoki Iwata as Celtic aimed to secure the necessary point from their remaining two games to secure the championship. Rodgers emphasized the importance of ball control and game management, highlighting Hatate’s tendency to lose possession too frequently.
“While Reo is a talented player, his propensity to give the ball away doesn’t meet my expectations,” Rodgers explained. “Midfielders need to dictate play, cherish possession, and ensure game control. His performance was too erratic, and it made the match more tense than it needed to be.
“Despite missing a penalty that could have extended our lead, beating Rangers carries significant positives. With better execution, the game could have finished 5-1 or 6-1. Winning against Rangers outweighs the missed opportunities.”
