Reo Hatate has dropped a huge hint that he has no intention of quitting Celtic like Ange Postecoglou after revealing he's already set his targets for next season.
And he's admitted he actually felt a tinge of jealousy towards Japanese countryman Kyogo Furuhashi after he swept the board in the Player of the Year awards in Scotland but is proud of his part in his success. Hatate is preparing for Japan's internationals this month along with Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda after helping the Hoops win the treble.
He's been linked with a big move to England or abroad after an excellent season for Celtic. Furuhashi won both the PFA Scotland and SFWA Player of the Year awards after an outstanding season where he scored 27 league goals. And Hatate was proud to have played his part even though he admitted he looked on with a hint of envy. He said: "Looking back on my own season, I played 32 league games, scoring six goals and assisting nine. In all official games, I had nine goals and 11 assists.
"I was aiming for double-figure goals and double-figure assists, so while I achieved my assists, I didn't reach my goalscoring target, which will be the challenge for next season. Kyogo was named Scottish Premiership Player of the Year. As a fellow Japanese player, I felt proud, but also frustrated. If I had worked harder, I could have won that honour.
"On the one hand, I was happy for him but on the other hand, I frankly felt frustrated. It will motivate me even further to grow as a player. In the Scottish league, a foreign country, a Japanese player scored 27 goals and became the top scorer. This is no easy feat. That's why I'm happy that I was able to make a small contribution with my assists.
"Last season, when I joined Celtic in the middle of the campaign, my problem was I ran out of steam in terms of my condition by the end of the season. But this season, I set myself the goal of maintaining a high level of performance throughout the season and I was able to do that and play in the Champions League. I regard it as a solid season.
"I feel that I was able to show consistent play throughout the season in a position where, like Kyogo, I am expected to contribute not only in terms of visible goals, but also in terms of attack and defence. On a personal level, it also gave me confidence that I could always get a chance to play. I was competing for the same midfield position as Callum McGregor, Matt O'Reilly and Aaron Mooy.
"McGregor is the team captain and represents Scotland. Mooy also represented Australia, and O'Reilly, at 22, was younger than me and had a lot of momentum. I had to work hard every day competing for places with these players, so it was a solid feeling to be able to keep my place.
"Both Kyogo and Daizen Maeda are strikers with speed as their speciality. I have worked hard to pass the ball quickly when they start to move, and as a result of that, I have become more confident in my play, which is reflected in the 11 assists I have made."
And Hatate, in his column in a newspaper in his homeland, revealed how much he loved winning the treble with Celtic after beating Caley Thistle. He stated: "It's been three and a half years since I turned professional and I've been lucky enough to win the title every year. No matter how many times we have won, none of them have been the same and each time we get a different sense of fulfilment and achievement, probably because of that explosive joy shown by the fans who cheer us on.
"I was thinking about that watching the joy of the supporters at Hampden Park after our 3-1 win over Inverness in the Scottish Cup Final. The smiles I have seen since joining Celtic inspire me to get better and help me to grow.
"Kyogo scored the opening goal and I always try to make use of his quickness of movement, and this season, when I looked up on the pitch, I first looked for him and tried to pass to him as much as possible.
"My personal favourite moments of the season were assists against Hearts and St Mirren in the league and the one I gave to Kyogo in the League Cup Final. Many of the goals he has scored have been one-touch goals and that's because of his movement.
"This season we have had much more conversations on the pitch. I am always looking for his runs and as a result, I think I have become a better player. Remember, I was originally a striker, but at Celtic, I started to play in midfield and I have been able to play this role largely because of Kyogo."
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