Martin O’Neill Fires Reo Hatate Celtic Warning

Martin O’Neill has told Reo Hatate that the responsibility now sits firmly with him after his impact at Ibrox.

Hatate came off the bench and changed the game. Celtic were flat, Rangers were comfortable, and the midfield battle was drifting away.

Within minutes, that shifted. The 28-year-old brought urgency and drive. He got closer to Callum McGregor, pressed Rangers’ central players higher up the pitch and started to find space between the lines.

He forced the issue. When Celtic won a late penalty, Hatate stepped up. Jack Butland saved it. So did the rebound. Hatate did not stop. At the third attempt, he buried it.

It secured a point that could yet matter.

The problem is that this has not been the norm. Hatate has taken criticism this season and not without reason. Too many quiet games. Too many loose touches. Too many moments where he drifted out of contests.

Supporters have been waiting for a spark. Ibrox gave them one half of it.

O’Neill was clear when asked about Hatate’s challenge for the run-in. He said (Celtic FC):

“Well, Reo has to get the best out of himself, you know. That’s the most important thing.

“If you had been asking that question to any of my managers about me as a player, they would have stared right through you and said it’s up to him as the player.

“This is it, Reo’s been a really fine footballer here, and it’s been a tough old season for him, it’s been a tough old season for the football club. If he could maintain that form, then he can be an asset to us.”

There was no sugarcoating.

O’Neill was then pressed on whether Hatate can produce that level consistently.

“Well, it would be easy for me to sit here and say that would be fantastic, that would really be up to the player as much as anything.

“In terms of encouragement here, which is something that we’ve been giving, absolutely. It’s all the encouragement in the world from us, so it wouldn’t be in that score that he would fail.”

Encouragement is there. Excuses are not.

Hatate, like the rest of the squad, has months to define this season. The title is still within reach, but the margin for error has gone. There is no space for passengers now.

Aberdeen are up next. Win that and Celtic move up to second. Hearts are doing their job quietly and efficiently. Celtic need to respond.

It has to start tomorrow night.

Hatate showed at Ibrox what he can bring when he plays with purpose. The question is whether that 45 minutes was a turning point or just another glimpse.

The answer, as O’Neill says, is up to him.