ANGE POSTECOGLOU says there is much more to come from Reo Hatate after his stunning strike won Celtic a crucial three points against Motherwell.
Celtic were toiling a little at Celtic Park after an own goal from Josip Juranovic had cancelled out Kyogo’s early opener, before Hatate struck a thunderbolt into the far corner of the net from 25 yards to eventually give the hosts the spoils.
Hatate blotted his copybook late on though as his slack pass put Motherwell’s Ross Tierney in on goal, forcing captain Callum McGregor to haul him down and pick up a straight red card, and Postecoglou says it is a lesson for the 24-year-old.
“He was good today,” Postecoglou said. “He was unlucky first half with his strike [that hit the post] as well.
“Reo’s developing well, he’s a player who has still got a hell of a lot of potential.
“I try to explain to people his background, like a lot of Japanese players he only came out of university at 22. He’s only really been a professional footballer for three-odd years.
“So, I kind of knew after the impact he had in his first year as a professional that if it was his base line he was going to improve.
“He’s pretty hard on himself, he pushes himself, he wants to be better. So, there’s a lot more to come.
“He’ll be disappointed with his pass late today which sort of created the red card situation. So, he’ll go back in the sheds and think of how he can better.
“But Reo’s got great potential and he was good today.”
Postecoglou disputed the call from referee John Beaton to dismiss McGregor, believing that Stephen Welsh was in a covering position.
“It is disappointing,” he said. “He’s taken one for the team.
“I’m not sure it was a red card, it looked like we had a covering player. But the referee was in a better position, so you’ve got to cop it.
“It will be disappointing for him.”
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