Celtic

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed "outstanding" midfielder Reo Hatate amid reported interest from Serie A side Udinese.

Hatate, 27, signed for Celtic in 2022 from Kawasaki Frontale and has scored 26 goals in 140 appearances for the Parkhead club.

The Japan international has been a key player for Rodgers this season as Celtic aim for a domestic treble.

"I think for Reo I can feel a little bit, especially in the first year here, that there was a little bit of inconsistency there," Rodgers said.

"There's absolutely no doubt he's a big talent. He's obviously a bit later in age now, even though he's 27, but maybe some clubs look at him and think he's at the wrong end of the asset age. They tend to go for younger players.

"But for me, he's an absolutely outstanding player. How he protects the ball, how he's prepared to play the risk pass. He's got goals, he can take the ball."

Rodgers admits it took a while to understand how Hatate ticks, but says you can see his quality shine through now the schedule has eased off somewhat.

"I think the challenge for him has been sometimes in that really busy period when there's three games a week and in that third game there's a bit of tiredness that sets in," Rodgers said.

"But you see him now, especially when there's one game a week, he's so good. He's a really gifted player.

"It took me a wee while to get inside him and his mind and everything else, but he's absolutely superb.

"He's certainly not underestimated by ourselves because he's been really, really good this year."

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership match against Hibernian on Saturday.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Praised Viljami Sinisalo's "excellent" performances in Kasper Schmeichel's absence. Rodgers says the plan was always for the Finland keeper to become Celtic's number one and he has shown he is capable of doing that in recent weeks.

• Rodgers will rotate his team in the final three league matches to give some players an opportunity and others a rest.

• On objects thrown on to the pitch at Ibrox last weekend, Rodgers says the issue needs to be addressed to protect players. He is "sure" Rangers will be looking into solutions.

• The Northern Irishman has been "very impressed" by Hibernian's resurgence under head coach David Gray and knows his team need to be at their best to win.

• On potential changes at Celtic this summer, Rodgers says if every member of his squad stays he would like three new additions. He caveated that by saying he expects some players to leave.

• Coach Darren O'Dea is wanted by Swansea City to become Alan Sheehan's assistant and Rodgers admits that move is a possibility.

• There is "nothing new" on a potential contract extension for left-back Greg Taylor, whose deal expires this summer.

• Schmeichel is available for selection. Alistair Johnston could return for the match against Aberdeen, while Cameron Carter-Vickers could feature against St Mirren at the earliest. Nicolas Kuhn has had five stitches just below his eye after an incident in training, but is fine to play.

Colin Moffat
BBC Sport Scotland

When Celtic beat Hibs 3-0 in Glasgow on 7 December, the length of the Premiership table separated the sides.

Since then no team in the division has collected more points than Hibs as they moved from last to third, having lost just once in 19 league outings and winning 13 of those.

That remarkable sequence includes a 2-1 victory over the champions at Easter Road when David Gray's side turned in a full throttle first-half display against opponents who had suffered midweek Champions League disappointment at Bayern Munich.

Celtic have since had their revenge in the Scottish Cup and knocked Hibs out of the League Cup, too, making it four wins from the five encounters this season.

These two may be the form teams of 2025 but Celtic are undefeated in 21 home games against Hibs in all competitions, winning 17, since a 2-1 upset in January 2010.

With the title wrapped up and the last Old Firm game out of the way, Brendan Rodgers plans to rest a few players with the Scottish Cup final in mind.

That might embolden the visitors, who posed very little threat in that cup defeat in March.

Of course, Gray might think it will be easier to hold out against a team missing a few frontline stars but a cautious approach backfired at Pittodrie recently to end a long unbeaten run.

With a three-point lead over Aberdeen in the race for third and a healthy advantage in goal difference, Hibs may opt to keep the shackles off this time, and, if Celtic have players looking to impress the boss, we could be in for a real treat.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

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Serie A side Udinese have scouted Reo Hatate as they weigh up a big-money summer swoop for the Celtic midfielder. (Scottish Sun), external

Friday's Scottish gossip

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Brendan Rodgers says it is "incredible" that there is now an "expectation" on Celtic to win domestic trebles.

Victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final this month would complete Celtic's sixth clean sweep in nine years.

Rodgers, who began the club's unprecedented period of domination with an 'invincible treble' in 2017, told Celtic TV: "When I came in 2016, the treble wasn't mentioned so much. It was just not the thing that happened.

"But now the players have had success from that moment, they feel good, and they know the expectations, they know the desires of the club and what it is we want to achieve.

"When I came in 2016, it had already been done three times in the history of the club and when you think from 1888 to that point, it's a remarkably long period of time with brilliant managers and brilliant players.

"But what we tried to do in 2016 was up the level of professionalism, up the mentality, so that everyone then had to come in tune with my vision and how we wanted to work.

"And once we achieved that in the 2017 final, it was a real good feeling with a group of players that they were inspired then to keep going.

"And from then the club has been able to roll it out and do it a few more times since.

"But it's definitely something that's an expectation, which is an incredible thing to say when you know what you have to go through in order to win the three competitions, it's not easy at all.

"People take it for granted now but there's so many things can go against you as a player and a manager. And for us to have done that over the course of nine seasons, it's a true reflection of the professionalism, the quality and you also need that bit of good fortune in the journey as well."

Celtic return to Parkhead as champions this weekend to take on a Hibernian side still chasing third place and Rodgers insists his players will train "like animals" to keep the standards high.

He said: "It's important that the players and the staff and the people enjoy the success of which we've had to this point.

"But from today, it's 18 days left in the season for us to train like animals, every single day, to recover the very best way that we can in those days off, and then be in here to get ready, get prepared, take on the games.

"We have three games in a week before we lead into the Scottish Cup final. So for us and being a Celtic player, this is what it's about."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Signed for a club record fee, much has been made about the impact of Celtic's Arne Engels in his debut season in Scotland.

While an incoming player has no say in the figures involved in their transfer fee, there have still been some suggestions the Parkhead club are not getting their money's worth after spending around £11m on the Belgian.

That said, a combined goals and assists contribution of 22 from a 21-year-old midfielder makes for very good reading, even if eight of his 10 goals have come from the penalty spot.

But what do the underlying numbers say about the former Augsburg player's first season in Glasgow?

Out of midfielders to have played at least 1,000 minutes in the Scottish Premiership this season, only Hearts' Blair Spittal has created more chances than Engels.

The Belgium international ranks ninth for successful passes (1,049) and sixth for most passes completed in the opposition half (665), while his passing accuracy of 81.6% in the attacking half of the pitch places him eighth.

No Premiership midfielder has scored more league goals (nine) or had more touches in the opposition box (98), plus only team-mate Reo Hatate has taken more shots (60).

Where Engels becomes more subdued is in his defensive work, ranking outside the top 30 for duels won, recoveries, tackle success and interceptions.

Than can perhaps be expected with the amount of time Celtic spend on the ball, but it is certainly a part of his game that manager Brendan Rodgers will look to develop to make the Belgian the complete package.

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• Celtic have won six of their past seven meetings with Hibs in all competitions, although the exception was the last league match between the two, a 2-1 Hibs win in February. Not since 1950-51 have the Hoops lost successive league meetings with Hibs within a single season.

• Hibs are winless in 21 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D4 L17) since a 2-1 victory in January 2010. They have lost their past seven successive trips by an aggregate score of 23-4.

• Celtic have scored 58 goals in their 17 home league games this season (3.4 per game), last scoring more in 2003-04 under Martin O'Neill (62).

• Since their last league visit to Celtic in early December, Hibs have lost just one of their 19 league games (W13 D5), picking up more points in the Premiership than any side since that match (44).

• Adam Idah has scored three goals in Celtic's past two league games, as many as his previous 20 Premiership appearances combined beforehand. He is looking to score in three successive matches in the competition for the second time, after doing so in February.

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Kasper Schmeichel is winning his battle to be fit for the Scottish Cup final after being out since March with a shoulder injury. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

A league and Scottish Cup double didn't get him manager of the year last season. A league and League Cup double and a place in the Scottish Cup final hasn't been enough to sway the voting from his peers in his direction this term either.

Brendan Rodgers could well this month become the only Celtic manager to win three trebles and yet John McGlynn's back-to-back promotions into the top flight with Falkirk have twice denied the Northern Irishman the top award from PFA Scotland.

What more could Rodgers do? And does he get the credit he deserves?

The answers, for me, are: nothing, and no. Incidentally, I have no problem whatsoever with McGlynn's double. He's a fantastic manager.

For Celtic, however, to be standing on the brink of a sixth domestic treble in nine seasons - with Rodgers at the helm for three of them, if he can steer his side past Aberdeen at Hampden - means there's a serious side effect to the club's addiction to success. Such domination tends to diminish the scale of the achievement.

If you've done five trebles recently, how big a deal can it be to make it to the half dozen? Given the main opposition, Rangers, rotate through managers at the rate of roughly one a year, is it any wonder Celtic's relative rock-solid stability breeds triumph after triumph?

The complacency with which Celtic's honours are sometimes greeted does a great disservice to the players and manager. Ask any professional sportsperson how difficult it is to lead from the front, with a target forever on your back.

St Johnstone, Hibs and Rangers (twice) have all beaten Celtic this calendar year. Yet still Rodgers' side sits 17 points clear at the top with just three games left. They could yet amass 94 points.

Yes, Celtic have the biggest budget in Scottish football and therefore better players than everyone else. That doesn't guarantee you continued success or blanket domination. Just ask Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Where the Celtic manager earns his corn – and should earn the respect of anyone else in the game – is building, and maintaining, such a winning culture. He transformed the side in one season into 'invincible treble' winners in 2017.

Another treble followed in 2018, while he set the foundation for the 2019 domestic clean sweep by winning the League Cup and establishing a gap at the top before abandoning ship for Leicester.

He wasn't therefore universally welcomed back in 2023. Rodgers held firm and delivered a double. He may well go one better this time around.

Still not enough to win the first boss of the year award. Will the football writers perhaps gift him their managerial prize? He's not likely to lose any sleep over it if they don't. All he has to do is keep his support base and board happy.

His team nearly beat Bayern Munich in their own backyard in the Champions League knockout phase. European progress achieved. Domestic domination? Box nearly ticked, although the Dons will have plenty to say about that at Hampden.

If you can only beat what's in front of you, Rodgers has consistently done so, and then some. His problem is that it's perceived as all too easy, and greeted with little more than a shrug of the shoulders in some quarters.

Credit should be given where due - Celtic have a top coach doing a top job. Fans who still wish he hadn't come back are pretty thin on the ground these days.

Tino
Fan writer

It was Ange Postecoglou who coined the phrase "We never stop!" during his time at Celtic, and it feels as relevant now as it did then as we head into the final fixtures of this season.

But is it that relentless and ruthless mindset from within the first-team environment that's actively preventing young players from making the grade at Celtic Park?

With the title already wrapped up, many would see the final three Scottish Premiership fixtures as the perfect time to provide some of our academy players with vital first-team experience.

But the reality is that's very unlikely to happen.

With momentum being viewed as a priority before the Scottish Cup final, and almost every game we play being labelled as a 'must win', there's every chance our most talented youth prospects will once again find themselves watching from afar.

The manager has made it abundantly clear there'll be no coasting over the finish line and every member of his squad - young and old alike - will be desperate to stake a claim for a place at Hampden.

And so the big debate among fans remains - when (and where) is the right time for Celtic to introduce youngsters to the squad?

Of Celtic's 53 games this season so far, four of the current crop of academy players have had first-team minutes.

But when you drill down into the detail it makes for some fairly uninspiring reading.

While Dane Murray was exposed to a Champions League cameo against Aston Villa, followed shortly after by the full 90 minutes in a 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers, his young team-mates have featured even more sparingly.

Daniel Cummings got 12 minutes in the same Villa game, while Jude Bonnar played 11 minutes of February's 5-1 league win over Aberdeen. Francis Turley has featured for just one solitary minute, replacing Reo Hatate in an early-season 3-0 win over St Mirren.

So what's the solution?

If we play the youngsters and go on to drop points or lose cup ties, what does that do for their confidence, and for the confidence of the fans?

Alternatively, if we don't play them - akin to what we're doing just now - then what's the point of the academy at all?

Is it good enough to just be producing players who go on to make their careers elsewhere? Most would say no.

And though the ongoing success of the first team is something we'll all continue to enjoy, an undeniable hope for many fans is that we soon see the emergence of the next Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney or James Forrest from Lennoxtown.

But for that to happen, in its simplest form our youngsters must get minutes. Otherwise they'll just disappear like so many before them in recent times.

So while the "We never stop" mantra has so many positive connotations, maybe now is the time to stop, reassess and take a long hard look at what's next for the Celtic academy.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

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Celtic trio Daizen Maeda, Callum McGregor and manager Brendan Rodgers have all been nominated for this year's Scottish Football Writers' Association end-of-season awards.

Japan striker Maeda, who this week won PFA Scotland's player of the year prize, could claim the SFWA's equivalent by fending off competition from captain McGregor, Dundee forward Simon Murray and Hibernian midfielder Nectar Triantis.

Maeda currently leads the Scottish Premiership's scoring chart, along with Dundee's Murray on 16 goals, while McGregor has once again been the driving force in the heart of the Celtic team as they eye another domestic treble.

Manager Rodgers, who has guided the Parkhead side to a 13th league title in 14 seasons, is vying with Hibs head coach David Gray, Falkirk's John McGlynn and Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin for the manager of the year award.

Rodgers lost out on the PFA Scotland award to McGlynn, who has taken Falkirk to the top flight for the first time in 15 years.

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Former Celtic forward John Hartson fears speculation over manager Brendan Rodgers' future may affect the club next season. (Sun), external

Another ex-Celtic player, Stiliyan Petrov, expects the club to spend this summer and suggests five more players like Daizen Maeda would be a good place to start. (Herald - subscription required), external

And Petrov expects Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, 22, to be "a completely different player next season". (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Brendan Rodgers is relishing the prospect of a "tough test from a top Premier League side" when Celtic host Newcastle United in a friendly at Celtic Park this summer.

The Scottish and English League Cup winners will meet on Saturday, July 19 in the Adidas Trophy.

Eddie Howe, who ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy this season, turned down the opportunity to manage Celtic in May 2021 before Ange Postecoglou's appointment.

Celtic boss Rodgers said: "I'm really looking forward to this match in the summer and I think it will be a great occasion for both sets of players and supporters, as well as being really important in our build-up to next year."

Howe added: "Travelling to Glasgow to face Celtic is a great opportunity to test ourselves as we gear up for Premier League and European football next season.

"We'll face a top team at an historic ground, with a big away crowd there to support us."

Celtic are interested in Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic, but have been warned the teenager is not for sale. (Max Sport via Daily Record), external

Celtic star Daizen Maeda insists talks over a new deal with the club will have to wait until the end of the season, with his full focus on the Scottish Cup final. (Daily Record), external

Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt are interested in long-term Celtic target Mathias Kvistgaarden and the Brondby forward would favour a move to Germany. (Football Insider), external

Celtic are considering bringing goalkeeper Ross Doohan back to the club when his Aberdeen contract expires in the summer to help meet Champions League regulations on home grown talent. (Glasgow Times), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

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"Driven" Viljami Sinisalo is content "trying to prove" he can play for Celtic and is not allowing himself to think about what happens when number one Kasper Schmeichel returns to fitness.

The 23-year-old has started the past six matches for Brendan Rodgers' side since his 38-year-old team-mate - who Sinisalo said "cannot be replaced" - suffered a shoulder injury on international duty with Denmark in late March.

Asked if he felt he had given manager Rodgers a decision to make with his performances since stepping into the team, the Finn said: "That's a tough question. Kasper's been brilliant for us for the whole season, he's been amazing.

"What he brings to the squad, what he brings to the changing room, you can't replace that. He's a big voice, he's a leader.

"If I stay in the team, if Kasper gets in the team, that's the manager's decision. I'm just trying to prove I can play for this football club every day in training and in games like [Sunday's derby with Rangers]."

Schmeichel is battling to get back in time for the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on 24 May, though Rodgers said after Sunday's 1-1 draw away to Rangers that Sinisalo had shown he "has the authority to play for Celtic".

"To hear someone say that is great, obviously, but I want to get better," the keeper added. "Every game is an opportunity to get better and I'm very much driven in that.

"I want to just try and showcase my ability to the people that probably haven't seen me as much."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Champions Celtic failed to get the better of rivals Rangers in the final derby of the season, but they ensured they didn't suffer a third straight defeat in the fixture.

Crucial to that was Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The United States international was Celtic's best performer in defence and was always there when the big interventions were required.

We asked for your views on Celtic's derby draw at Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: Celtic should've won this game, several decisive opportunities spurned, although Rangers had a few chances themselves. The jury is still out on Adam Idah, he still has a lot improve on to appease the Celtic support but his goal was well taken. The draw wasn't a fair result in the end though.

Ray: Pretty flat with two poor teams on the day. Celtic seriously need a partner for Cameron Carter-Vickers and midfield and wide players were easily snuffed out once again. Don't seem to learn that Rangers know how to stop Celtic playing. Bit of a damp squib.

Andrew: Liam Scales has cost us too many times in big games. Idah has the attributes but needs to work harder. Need a better centre-back and centre-forward than them for next season for a start. Sinisalo looked steady for the little that was thrown at him. The game was there for the taking but too often we got in good positions and the ball came back towards our own goal. So while avoiding defeat at Ibrox is never a bad thing, it feels like an opportunity missed with having the balance of play.

Liam: If Brendan Rodgers or any fans are going to lay their hat on Idah being our main number nine next season, we will regress. He was poor for most of the game. His lack of football intelligence is baffling when you compare to what has gone before. Scales and Reo Hatate also continue to fail to consistently hit the heights we need. I expect a few changes in the summer and they are needed to try and improve this group. A number nine is first, a centre-mid, winger and centre-back.

Shaun: I still think Idah isn't good enough, he hasn't shown the hunger and determination to be good enough and his body language is a sure sign he isn't good enough. There are a few players who need to leave like Kasper Schmeichel, Auston Trusty, Scales, Luke McCowan and Arne Engels. Sinisalo was outstanding and should be number one. There are too many bit-part players at the club who need to go and it will free up a lot of wages to bring in a better calibre of player.

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• Rangers have failed to win in their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winless streak was from 1 February 2017 to 24 February 2017.

• Celtic have scored in 32 of their 35 games, more often than any other team in the Scottish Premiership.

• Daizen Maeda has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Premiership (one goal, three assists).

• Maeda has also now assisted 10 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other player.

• Cyriel Dessers has scored 14 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Rangers player.

• Mohammed Diomande has assisted seven goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Rangers player has more.

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Daizen Maeda is determined to maintain the stellar level that has rewarded the Celtic striker with PFA Scotland's player of the year prize.

The Japan forward has scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists in an excellent season for the Scottish Premiership champions, who will secure another domestic treble if they beat Aberdeen in this month's Scottish Cup final.

It is the ninth time in 11 years that a Celtic player has taken home the award, with Maeda beating team-mates Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn, as well as Dundee forward Simon Murray, in the votes cast from players across the SPFL divisions.

"Everything I've built up to this season has paid off," said the 27-year-old, who also claimed his club's player of the year prize, said.

"I'm doing the best for the team I play for, that's motivation for me to keep working hard and continue what I've been doing."