Shinji Kagawa has claimed his lack of games at Manchester United is influencing his performance with his national side, and the Japanese playmaker has vowed to get more playing time under his belt at United to be able to have a bigger impact on his national team’s fortunes at the World Cup.
Japan lost to Serbia and Belarus during the international break and although they were already qualified for this summer’s showdown in Brazil, the former Dortmund playmaker has claimed that a lack of regular football at club level could affect his performances with the national side.
“Personally I felt strongly after these two [international] matches that I need to play more [at my club] and, as a team, there are many things we need to do as well.
“So we all need to go back to our European or J-League clubs and take what we learned in these two matches and work to fix those problems,” said Kagawa, who has made only four starts in United’s first 11 games in all competitions this season.
“It’s different from the atmosphere at United but you still get a good feel for being on the pitch when you play regularly.
“Maybe it’s because I’m not used to being on the pitch of late but I didn’t feel like I was able to enter these two games properly.
“During tough times like these I have to improve myself,” explained Kagawa, who has been linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid as David Moyes seems to struggle to find space for the Japanese in his starting XI.
For all his unquestionable talent, Kagawa has failed to seize the few opportunities he’s been given this season, as games have appeared to pass him by, with the Japanese struggling to get involved and making an impact in the final third of the pitch.
One would hope Kagawa won’t follow the same path as Juan Sebastian Veron, but time is running out for him and the club.
