If it had just been the once, perhaps we could put it down to being lost in translation.
It is possible to cross lines when quoting foreign publications in the original language. This is a reality that numerous athletes have exploited as an easy way out when their complaints about their team or manager to the local media have found their way back to their regular places of employment.
I was willing to give Reo Hatate the benefit of the doubt when Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu referred to him as a “water carrier” for the first time. However, Hatate has now made references to this being his assigned position in the Japanese squad.
Hatate told the Japanese football website Gekisaka, “I think it’s important to get my own results, but my ability to carry water is also being evaluated.”
Hatate is one of Scotland’s most inventive and technically proficient midfielders; using him as a water carrier is like asking Michelangelo to paint your downstairs bathroom. He’ll perform admirably, no doubt, but it feels like a waste of his abilities.
That is if Moriyasu uses him at all. Hatate, along with Celtic teammate Daizen Maeda, was an unused substitute in the Samurai Blue’s opening Asian Cup win over Vietnam on Sunday. Japan take on Iraq this morning, and it remains to be seen if either man gets a runout.
It all adds fuel to the notion that Moriyasu is on a different page to Celtic when it comes to what their Japanese contingent can offer, both when Ange Postecoglou was in charge, and now, under Brendan Rodgers.
For Moriyasu, Hatate is a water carrier, while at Celtic, he is a lock picker. Maeda is a central striker for his country ahead of Kyogo Furuhashi, while at Celtic, he plays off the wing in deference to him. And Kyogo himself barely gets a sniff for Japan, while he is the focal point of Celtic’s attack.
While all three players undoubtedly love representing their country, and would much rather be called up than not, I’m not sure that the Celtic coaching team would necessarily feel the same way.
And while Rodgers was gutted for Kyogo on a personal level not to make their Asian Cup squad, he would have been just as confused and perturbed that Hatate was included after just 19 minutes of competitive football in the preceding two and a half months.
Particularly if his primary role is a squad filler. Or indeed, if he does get a chance to play, as a water carrier. Or even from the left wing, as he did in a friendly against Tunisia in October.
In mitigation, Moriyasu does have a wealth of talent available to choose from. But there must be a feeling within the Celtic camp that representing Japan – or not, as the case may be – is an unwelcome distraction for the trio. Hatate though, in typically humble style, is happy to accept his station.
“First of all, what can I do for the team?” he said.
“The best thing to do is to do my best for the team, and in addition to that, I want to get results such as goals.
“I think if you do it for the sake of others, they will follow you, so I hope I can do my best to help the team win.
“The team’s training has been very intense, and I feel like my condition is improving.”
That last nugget there is at least encouraging from a Celtic point of view. They would undoubtedly have preferred to monitor Hatate’s ongoing quest for full fitness and match sharpness at close quarters at Lennoxtown, but at least that work is going into his legs, and their sports science team will no doubt be receiving his data.
Unfortunately, improving his match sharpness is the one thing that could have been guaranteed had he stayed in Glasgow, and that is now out of the club’s hands. The Scottish Cup tie against Buckie Thistle this Sunday, for instance, would be a perfect opportunity to step up his game time.
Alas, we wait to see if Hatate, and indeed Maeda, will get their opportunity. All going well for Japan, they could conceivably be away until mid-February, and it is likely they will both be called upon at some stage should their nation go deep in the tournament.
For Hatate though, that might mean the odd cameo from the bench here and there over the next three weeks, and given he has only just returned to action, that is far from ideal.
GET MORE NEWS HERE