Kawasaki: It is a decade since Kengo Nakamura made his AFC Champions League bow, but this year’s continental campaign could prove to be his most successful yet according to the Kawasaki Frontale midfielder, who is eagerly anticipating Wednesday’s quarter-final clash with Urawa Red Diamonds.
In the 2007 AFC Champions League, Nakamura and his Kawasaki team-mates also reached the last eight only to be eliminated by Islamic Republic of Iran club Sepahan and, despite appearing in three editions since, the J.League side have never managed to better that performance.
Kengo Nakamura is playing in his fifth AFC Champions League competition
However, the 36-year-old Nakamura is coming off a banner year where he was named the 2016 J.League MVP and the performances this season on both the domestic and continental front seem to suggest Kawasaki are not to be taken lightly on their quest for glory.
“Previously, we might have missed out on reaching the semi-finals due to various factors or, to put it simply, we weren’t good enough,” said Nakamura, who has spent his entire professional career at Kawasaki.
“But this year, I feel things have changed. We have a new coach and made some changes in personnel – it feels like a totally new team.
Central to that belief is the influence of coach Toru Oniki, who was handed his first head coach role after being appointed to the helm ahead of the 2017 J.League season following the departure of Yahiro Kazama to Nagoya Grampus.
A former player for Kawasaki, Oniki previously worked with the club’s youth teams and backroom staff, and was registered as assistant coach during the 2014 AFC Champions League campaign.
Coach Toru Oniki has guided Kawasaki to their third AFC Champions League quarter-final
“The team was a bit unstable at first as we adjusted to the new coach, but we now know exactly what he wants from us and we’re very solid as a team,” said Nakamura.
“We used to be thought of as good side with a nice style, good passing and possession-play but ultimately wouldn’t last the distance.
“Under coach Oniki, though, we have this ‘fighting spirit’ and he has tightened us up defensively, so we leave ourselves less exposed at the back.”
And Nakamura knows that the side will need to once again be at the top of their game in Wednesday’s difficult test against one of Japan’s heavyweights: the 2007 AFC Champions League winners Urawa.
“Urawa are still one of the J.League’s leading teams, it doesn’t matter if their current form isn’t good,” added Nakamura.
“They also have a new head coach and, although they weren’t in good form, they are trying to re-build the team. With a new coach, they have a new strategy and so it will be more difficult to play against them. They have good players and that hasn’t changed, just the system.
“Urawa are actually my favourite opponents because I can put my all against them on the field and it makes for a fun match. These two AFC Champions League matches are going to be really crucial for both teams.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com