HOLE LOT BETTER
Celtic ace Reo Hatate reveals his unusual junk food secret to avoiding injury
Tasty treats have kept him ticking over
REO HATATE has revealed a mixture of weights and doughnuts have helped get him in the best shape of his career.
The Celtic midfielder has been following a strict post-match regime in a bid to avoid injury.
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Hatate, 27, missed the bulk of last season with a series of niggles but has been a virtual ever-present this term.
The Japanese star puts that down to his new post-match weights and ice-bath regime — and the odd sweet treat.
Hatate will take his place in the Hoops midfield against Rangers on Sunday and insists he feels transformed physically.
He said: “At the beginning of this season, I was worried about the fact that I had been injured repeatedly last year.
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“However, once I started to maintain my condition through new habits, those worries disappeared and I was able to play to my heart’s content.
“I have been able to play with confidence and I believe that I can embody that when I step onto the pitch.
“My preparations for the next game begin the moment the final whistle blows.
“Due to repeated injuries last season, I find myself drained of energy after games.
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“So I try to consume things that will give me some.
“After a match, there’s a variety of food available in the Celtic dressing room.
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“But I like to have a banana first to refuel and sometimes I’ll reach for one of the doughnuts if I feel like I’m running low on energy.
“The best time to eat is right after the game ends and I return to the dressing room.
“There is a little bit of time before the coach gives his summary of the game, so I try to eat before then.
“In the weeks when we play every three days, I then do weight training for my upper and lower body immediately after each game.
“To be honest, it’s pretty tough to do it because I’m so exhausted after the match!
“But I tell myself that it’s necessary for me to grow and become stronger and to be able to fight through so many matches without getting injured again.
“I have kept doing it throughout the season and now everyone understands that this is my routine.”
Ever-present Hatate has featured in all 46 of Celtic’s games this season, starting 35 of them as boss Brendan Rodgers rotates his players when he can.
He also earned a tenth cap for Japan in November.
He said: “The club provides me with the equipment, whether we play home or away. I believe this has led to me playing 46 times already this season.
“When we only play from weekend to weekend, I can do the weight training early in the week. But we have had a busy schedule this season, so I have mostly done it immediately after games.
“I try not to put too much strain on my body, but I feel it has helped me fight through the season.
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“It feels very beneficial for me and helps my speed and agility on the pitch.
“Another post-match routine is taking an ice bath, as it reduces muscle inflammation and improves circulation.
“Some of my team-mates also do it and some don’t, it’s up to each individual.
“But I feel it’s necessary for me, so I’m incorporating it and I also use a foam roller.
“The day’s fatigue should be dealt with on the day itself.
“Also, instead of stretching the muscles all the time, I now focus on increasing the range of motion of my hips and other joints.
“As a result, I have been able to go through the season so far without seeing the physio that much.
“In the end, the accumulation of this daily routine leads to maintaining your condition.”
Hatate admits he has a sweet tooth and he allows himself the odd piece of chocolate, insisting this is crucial for his frame of mind.
And he believes it has all combined to help him produce the most consistent season of his career.
He said: “Other than training, the most important things are food and sleep. The chef prepares a menu and after games, I tend to eat pasta or rice flour noodles.
“Sometimes I treat myself with chocolate. I love sweets!
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“If I cut out all sweets during the season it might affect the body with stress, so I sometimes eat them to refresh myself and change my mood.
“The way I deal with my body will continue to change from time to time.
“What is most important is to know your own body, what suits you, what works for you. Preparation is the foundation that supports confidence.
“Instead of comparing yourself to others, you can tell yourself, ‘I’ve recovered and prepared so much for this’.
“I think of it as a kind of stabiliser that helps me give my all on the pitch.
“A healthy body also leads to a healthy mind. It is only when the mind and body are stable that I can perform energetically on the pitch.”
Hatate also revealed Celtic’s Champions League exit to German giants Bayern Munich left him devastated.
The Hoops midfielder was spotted crying at full-time in the Allianz after they lost a last-minute goal.
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Hatate told his Sportiva diary: “When I heard the final whistle, tears welled up in my eyes because I was so disappointed.
“We sacrificed a lot over the ten games to get to that stage and we were full of regrets after going out.”
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