Reo Hatate reckons his dream derby double was a gift from GOD - but insists it made him a target for rivals. The Japanese star bagged a brace and set up another in a stunning display against Rangers at Parkhead.
And Hatate believes he was a marked man after that game shortly after his January arrival.The 24-year-old said: “I think people played against me differently after that, the marking became tighter — more physical.“Players would catch me on the ankle more when they were going for the ball.
I think the opponents watched the game and thought, ‘I have to do this now’.” But Hatate reckons the derby drubbing of the Light Blues was “perfect”.
He said: “I am glad my years of work had prepared me for an occasion like that. “But when it comes to what happened against Rangers with my goals, I think God was on my side!“I remember getting goosebumps the first time I went on the pitch just before the kick-off.“I was really nervous about that but then I was calm.
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