Hagi clocked just over an hour on Thursday night as Rangers played out a 1-1 draw against Czech outfit Slavia Prague at the Eden Arena in their Europa League clash.
The Romanian set up Filip Helander’s equaliser in the 36th minute, ensuring the Gers returned back to Glasgow with a valuable away goal in the tie.
Rangers legend Hateley feels that Hagi was not at his best in Thursday’s encounter, but explained his tendency to play passes into dangerous areas, anticipating scoring opportunities without actually picking out any team-mates, is frustrating for the opposition.
Despite struggling in the first half, Hagi did lay on an assist and Hateley tipped his hat to him for getting the Gers back in the game.
“This is where it gets frustrating with Hagi”, Hateley said on the Rangers Ten10 Podcast.
“Hagi anticipates where the ball is going to pop.
“He does not pick out anybody.
“He just anticipates where somebody is going to be and that is what he did.
“I mean really, he was our weakest player in the first half I thought because he was trying to wrestle himself into going.
“But he comes up with that [assist] and get us back in the game.”
The Gers have a week off to recharge their batteries and will host Slavia Prague at Ibrox in the return leg on 18th March.
