Brendan Rodgers says he is now seeing the real Reo Hatate after the Celtic midfielder failed to live up to his expectations last season.
Hatate endured an injury-hit campaign last term as he struggled for fitness and form at times too, but he put on a dazzling display on flag day at Celtic Park, scoring the opening goal as the champions put four past Kilmarnock.
Rodgers has been waiting for Hatate to hit the levels he had shown as he watched him from afar before his return to Celtic last summer, and he feels that the moment has finally arrived.
“I didn’t see the player that I hoped to see at the beginning of last season, for whatever reason,” Rodgers said.
“I was aware of him, and I'd seen him play and I liked what I'd seen. But he never really got going through pre-season last year. And not to what I was wanting. He got injured and then it was really broken for him.
“He had little spells where he came into the team, but not consistently. But he's come back pre-season now. And obviously, how the season ended, again, there’s that confidence.
“He knows I like him as a player. And he knows what I want from him as a player. And I think that what I've seen over the course of pre-season, he's top class. I'd hoped I could see that last season, but it doesn't matter.
“He's here now and he's been absolutely brilliant since his comeback. So, I’m really pleased for him.”
Rodgers started David Turnbull ahead of Hatate at the beginning of last season, and then criticised him for some sloppy distribution in the latter part of the campaign.
The Celtic manager says he wants Hatate to take risks in possession, but now he understands the areas of the pitch in which to do so, and that is helping him become a much more rounded midfielder.
“I just think it's just probably him maybe gaining a bit more clarity around what I want from a central midfield player,” he said.
“I want all the players to do their very best for Celtic. And then that ambition to do well for Celtic will help them in their individual careers. So, for me, it was always about balance. There was always a wonderful, gifted player in how he takes the ball and how he operates in space.
“For me, it was about keeping the risk in the game. Because I don't like midfield players that keep the ball 10 times out of 10. It's no good. But there are areas of the pitch in which to risk it.
“I think now he really sees the balance in the game between keeping the ball, keeping good concentration, linking the game, but still having the threat.
“You would have seen that in pre-season, you would have seen it at times in the second half of last season. But now I see a much more complete player.”
Rodgers was also pleased with the performance of winger Nicolas Kuhn, who he believes is also beginning to show his true level despite some recent niggling injury issues.
“He’s had a little issue with his back,” he said.
“Pre-season was good for him. He could have been better in terms of fitness because he missed some games. But he's certainly in a much better place, having had those four or five months at the end of last year from January. Having a good spell of work in pre-season, the confidence in games to take people on and be more aggressive.
“That's the thing that I've been talking with him in terms of really getting at people and showing your individual quality when we need it. He's a real worker, he presses, he runs. All these things, once it's together, you start to now see a player that can really be effective for us.
“I'm really pleased for him, and he will continue to grow, I'm pretty sure.”
