Two short clips involving Reo Hatate from Celtic’s 3–1 win over Motherwell have been doing the rounds online, and together they tell the story of the midfielder’s afternoon at Celtic Park.

The first came before a ball had even been kicked.

Celtic Park was hosting a special initiative as part of football’s accessibility week, with children with a range of additional needs invited to be mascots for the match. It created some brilliant moments on the pitch before kick off and one of them involved Hatate.

The Japanese midfielder could be seen looking after one of the young mascots, making sure the wee guy was comfortable before the teams lined up. Hatate chatted with him, offered reassurance, and made a point of giving the officials a high five alongside the youngster.

It was a small interaction but one that captured exactly what the day was supposed to be about.

Football can feel distant at times for supporters with additional needs, but moments like that make it feel welcoming and inclusive. Hatate’s instinctive warmth with the mascot did not go unnoticed by supporters in the stands or those watching the clips afterwards.

Hours later, another video involving Hatate painted a very different picture.

As the final whistle blew on Celtic’s 3–1 victory, the midfielder looked exhausted and noticeably downbeat despite the result. While teammates celebrated the win, Hatate appeared to be replaying a moment from earlier in the game in his head.

It was his mistake that led to Motherwell’s opener.

Caught in possession just outside his own penalty area, Hatate was dispossessed and the visitors took advantage to shock Celtic Park with the first goal of the afternoon.

The team recovered well. Yang Hyun-jun struck twice and Tomas Cvancara’s penalty helped turn the game around, but Hatate clearly had not moved on from his error by full time.

It summed up the personality supporters have come to recognise over the past few seasons. Hatate is a player who takes responsibility seriously and rarely shrugs off mistakes easily.

His season has been a mixture of outstanding performances and quieter afternoons. At times he has blown hot and cold.

Yet over the past few weeks, Hatate has also been central to keeping Celtic’s campaign alive.

His performance against Rangers in the Scottish Cup and his recent run of form have helped drag the team through a difficult period. Without those contributions, Celtic’s season could easily have drifted away.

Instead, the picture now looks very different.

Celtic are two points off the top of the table with eight games remaining and a Scottish Cup semi final on the horizon. The title race is alive again.

Those two clips from Saturday show the full picture of Hatate. A player capable of kindness and connection off the ball, and someone who demands far more of himself than anyone else when the whistle blows.

Celtic vs Motherwell – Reo Hatate