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The Japanese media heaped praise on Manchester United’s Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa after the club’s record 20th Premier League title was clinched on Monday. The midfielder however isn’t over the moon, because he feels he could have contributed a lot more to his club’s historic feat if it weren’t for his injury problems.
Kagawa, who became only the 6th Japanese player to play in the English Premier League, was sidelined for over two months with a knee injury in October. His 18 appearances for United this season have resulted in 3 assists and 5 goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Norwich City.
“Counting on you for the World Cup, too,” read the headline from a leading Japanese daily echoing the hopes and aspirations of the Land of the Rising Sun for Kagawa to lead the Azure Samurai to glory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Kagawa however remained firmly grounded .
“I was looking to produce even more results. I was injured and I felt things didn’t go well easily,” he revealed to the Japanese media after United’s 3-0 mauling of Aston Villa on Monday to clinch the league title with 4 matches to spare.
“I had a lot of conflict, frustration and worries. In that sense, I think it has been a profound year,” said the 24-year-old playmaker.
