The Japanese national team had their game versus against El Salvador at Kirin Challenge Cup 2023 held at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture on 15 June. In this article, I will focus on what Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi, who played in this game, said in their interviews after the game.

If you couldn’t watch this game, please watch the highlight video below first. And if you want to know more about it, you can discover more about their performance by reading my match report which I will release later on The Celtic Star.

Reo Hatate, who put in an outstanding performance in this game, said as follows…

“I’m grateful to Moriyasu and staff for letting me play as inside half in today’s game, but I thought that if I couldn’t play effectively there, I would lose my value in this team,” Reo Hatate said.

“Yeah, I thought there was no point for me to be here if I couldn’t show my own strengths even though I was given a chance to play, so I couldn’t score or assist in this game, but I’m sure I was able to fully perform my own strengths.

“I think there were many things I could do in today’s game among things I had to do other than results like scoring a goal and getting an assist. Ritsu Doan, the right winger, can effectively carry the ball by himself while holding the ball, so I played while seeing his movements.

“Also, while communicating with Morita, who is the same inside half as me, during the game, I tried to perform to my strengths in attacking area, and I was conscious of playing in a pocket as much as possible. Even after opponent’s center back left due to red card, Ayase Ueda, center forward, actively pressed, so we were able to carry out tactics we wanted to do as team.

“So I’m thinking that part positively. I don’t know what our game plan and results would have been if opponent’s centre back didn’t leave, but I think it’s one of our achievements that we were able to drive them into situation that they had to play without one.”

Kyogo after the game🍀pic.twitter.com/xZY9ycjKIx

— Yatao (@yataoda4) June 15, 2023

Kyogo, who scored a goal in this game, said in interview immediately after the game as follows.

Interviewer: “Congratulations on scoring a goal.”
Kyogo: “Thank you.”

Interviewer: “How did you feel about preparing until you played in 2nd half?”
Kyogo: “I was going to prepare well so that I could get good result in the game.”

Interviewer: “And how did you feel the moment you stepped into the pitch?”
Kyogo: “I played while feeling excitement, desire to score, and happiness of being able to play in front of fan.”

Interviewer: “In Scotland, you diligently made good results, which led to your performance in today’s game, didn’t it?”
Kyogo: “Yeah, I’m relieved now.”

Interviewer: “Please look back at the scene where you scored the goal.”
Kyogo: “Yuki Soma sent me wonderful ball, so I was able to score.”

Interviewer: “Isn’t the confidence you gained at Celtic this season connected to detail?”
Kyogo: “I have developed while focusing on detailed play this season, so I was able to play with confidence today.”

Interviewer: “You continued to play detailed tactics other than the scene that you scored the goal.”
Kyogo: “My teammates sent me a great pass, so I could just focus on playing tactics and shooting in the frame.”

Interviewer: “I guess the competition in the national team will intensify more and more from now on, what do you think about it?”
Kyogo: “I want to prepare well and have a good competition with my teammates.”

Interviewer: “Finally, could you send some words to fans who are cheering you in the stadium and from other places.”
Kyogo: “Thank you for your great support as always. I will prepare well and win games with everyone, so please continue to support our team.”

Also, after today’s training, the day after the game v El Salvador, Kyogo talked while looking back on memories with Andres Iniesta, who will leave Vissel Kobe at the end of the game on 1st July.

“Andres joined Vissel Kobe at the same time as me, and I learned a lot from him while playing with him. I want to say thank you to him for coming to Japan again. He still has a little time to play in Japan, so I want him to enjoy playing as much as possible.

“If I have time, I would like to go to meet him. I learned how to play tactics from him, and he always sent me really great passes by just trusting him and moving. The most important thing I learned from him is that it is also necessary to persevere during games in order to score goals.

“Now I feel like I could show him my development because of my performances at Celtic and scoring in the game against El Salvador. But I’ve already switched my mind to the next game against Peru which is important. And it’s important what kind of performance I will do from now on. I want to do my best so that my name can reach his place as much as possible and also to everyone’s places.”

完璧な動きからヘディングでズドン！💥

さすがだぜ、キョーゴ！🙆‍♂️ #KYOGOAL pic.twitter.com/YnN18sBGd7

— Celtic FC Japan (@CelticFCJPN) June 15, 2023

Finally, he looked back on the scene that scored a header goal by skilful tactics which he disappear in front of opponent’s defender, and talked about his enthusiasm for the game against Peru on June 20 as follows…

“I was able to keep in good condition and train, and imagining positively that I would play in yesterday’s game. As a result, my teammates sent me a great pass, so I was able to score the goal.

“This season, at Celtic, I have been brushing up with more awareness of the skill of take the marker off of myself. In the next game, we will do effective defence to prevent opponent’s team from holding the ball, and if we have the ball, I think it would be nice if we could find a clue with our teammates that leads to goals while we’re linked, creating space and shooting many times. If I can play in the game against Peru, I want to contribute to our team’s winning by finding a slight opening.”

That’s all. Kyogo and Reo Hatate, who played in yesterday’s game, were confident in their continued performance at Celtic, but were enthusiastic to challenge in the next game with strong feelings that they were not satisfied with the current situation.

And Daizen Maeda could not get a chance to play as winger in yesterday’s game, but he may get a chance to play as winger or striker in the next game. I am convinced that Celtic Japanese Bhoys performance as the national team will have positive impacts on their own performance and motivation next season back at Celtic.

Yatao

I am a Content Creator and Origami art Creator, Analyst working for think tank in Japan and I joined this team in May 2023 and started to write articles as Japanese Celtic author for The Celtic Star. I live in Kobe(Japan) and have followed Celtic after 14 October, 2006, when I had watched the game against Dundee United FC – Shunsuke Nakamura scored a hat-trick. Also I am an enthusiastic supporter of Vissel Kobe, and I am familiar with various information and history of J-League. I have been posting threads on trajectory and background of Celtic Japanese players on Twitter mainly since summer of 2022 in order to further deepen the bond between Celtic and Japan. This time, I’m so proud to be more committed to Celtic by joining The Celtic Star team. I’m good at changing of viewpoints, so please expect my articles written from fresh perspective.

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