At midday on Wednesday (CET), the Japanese national team will begin their quest for Asian Cup glory in the UAE against Turkmenistan. For Werder star Yuya Osako, the tournament offers a new international experience. The forward spoke to WERDER.DE in an interview ahead of his first Asian Cup about what this particular championship means to him.
WERDER.DE: Yuya, what does taking part in this year’s Asian Cup mean to you?
Yuya Osako: "This will be my first Asian Cup as a player – I’m highly motivated and want good results. I am looking forward to the tournament."
WERDER.DE: The 2019 Asian Cup is being held in the United Arab Emirates. Are you looking forward to going there and have you been to the country before?
Yuya Osako: "Yes, I have played there before. Because of the high temperatures there, a good preparation is essential, but this is the same for all of the teams at the tournament. I will give everything to try and win the cup with Japan."
WERDER.DE: How do you rate your chances at the Asian Cup?
Yuya Osako: "There are some very tough opponents at the tournament, so I’m expecting several exciting games."
It is a privilege to play for the national team at the Asian Cup.Yuya Osako
WERDER.DE: The Asian Cup means you’ll miss Werder’s training camp in South Africa and presumably the first few games of the second half of the season. How does the tournament change your standing in the team and what is your take on the situation?
Yuya Osako: "I don’t think missing the winter training camp will benefit me in any way. It’s also not good to miss three Bundesliga games. But it is a privilege to play for the national team at the Asian Cup – something not everyone has the opportunity to do. I want to prepare well for the tournament and give everything I’ve got once there."
WERDER.DE: You’ve been playing in Germany since January 2014. What does the Bundesliga mean to you?
Yuya Osako: "The Bundesliga had long since been a dream for me, as it is for so many other Japanese footballers. I would definitely like to continue playing here."
WERDER.DE: You’ve scored three times and provided one assist in the Bundesliga for Werder so far, and you’ve scored for us in the DFB Pokal. Do the goals make you feel like you can integrate into the team better?
Yuya Osako: "The goals are obviously important, but there have been several opportunities to score more. For this reason I want to try even harder in the coming games to score goals."
