Shunsuke Nakamura has told how he refers to a notebook he has kept and updated since childhood to get through tough times in his career, and how he has ambitions to return to Japan once his playing days are over.
Shunsuke Nakamura has told how he refers to a notebook he has kept and updated since childhood to get through tough times in his career, and how he has ambitions to return to Japan once his playing days are over to become manager of his national side - and grow tomatoes.
In an interview in Japan, the Celtic midfielder revealed that a recent entry in his "soccer notebook" told of his annoyance at being excluded from playing against Manchester United in the recent Champions League tie because he was too small, and how he tried to work out how to ensure manager Gordon Strachan never had to make that decision again.
Nakamura said: "If I imagine what a move could be like, I will make a diagram of it. I will also write down good moves Imay have witnessed on tape or dvd, or moves that went unexpectedly well during a match. Once a player stops thinking, he will no longer be able to make good moves. To prepare for such times, Iwrite down things when my mind is really working. When the team is on a losing streak, or when I have difficulty imagining my own moves, or when I have run into other dead ends, Igo back and read over my soccer notebook.
"People usually don't want to acknowledge what they have done wrong, but I am always honest with myself when I sit down in front of my soccer notebook. For example, the game against Manchester United during the Champions League when I was not even brought in as a substitute. Before the game, the manager explained to me the reasons why I was not in the starting line-up. He told me this game will develop in a way in which we cannot take advantage of your characteristics. Iwant to use taller players'.
"While I realised he was just thinking about my feelings, the fact is that I wasn't able to enter the game because there was something lacking in me. Facing my notebook by myself, I wrote in a quiet, but dejected manner what I lack is not height. How frustrating. What do I have to do?' "If a player does not reflect on his performance and learn something new from every game, whether he played or not, he might as well just consider his career over.
"Even if Iwas able to play in the next Scottish league game, I would not be able to enter the next game against a strong opponent such as Manchester United. Beyond that, I would not even understand what my weak points are and I may end up going downhill.
"I have to recognise and understand the fact there are certain areas in which I am lacking and write those points down and proceed to the next stage. If I don't do that, I would be wasting these great experiences that I am going through right now."
Nakamura's New Year's resolution is to ensure that Japan qualify for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa, although he is already thinking about life after he retires. He said: "2009 will mark the eighth year since I left Japan. When I was asked by Perugia about playing in Italy when I was 20, I couldn't make the decision because I was afraid about making the big jump to play overseas.
"Since I still retain some of that feeling even now, I sometimes feel strange about leading an ordinary life now in Glasgow. I never considered Scotland in the past and I can't speak English. It may be the case that as long as you have the will, things will work out in life.
"I want to eventually become the manager of the Japanese national team. I would like to coach the team at a World Cup, and, even more importantly, I also want to make Japanese football stronger. That's why I feel I want to teach teams at all age levels. I want to pass on advice in the same way that I was given advice when I was a child.
"There are many things I want to do after I retire as a player, such as visiting hot springs in Japan with my family or growing tomatoes while being really selective about the types of soil I use.
"In an ideal situation, I would manage the Japanese national team, but also be able to say I have some time on my hands, so maybe I should teach the neighbourhood children today' and go to kindergartens or elementary schools nearby. That is what I hope happens."
Nakamura spoke of the fearthat drives him on, which began when he was at school. He said: "I always feel pressure. If I don't feel a sense of crisis, I will be overtaken by other players and I could end up losing everything: honour, my salary and the No.10 shirt on the national team.
"Players selected to the national team are always changing. In order to win a starting spot, I have to constantly play well in international games. If I have two or three straight bad games, the manager and fans will start thinking about other players.
"I'm 30, so I'm no longer young for a football player. The Japanese love young players and the media play up those players as the saviour' or the new star'. Many young players nowadays have well-developed skills. If I have a bad game or have an injury it doesn't mean my level is declining, but it might cause some people to say maybe we no longer need Shunsuke'.
"I think in this way because of an experience I had in junior high school. When I failed to move up from the junior youth level at the Yokohama Marinos to the youth level, I thought maybe I didn't have the right soccer sense and that it would be better if I just quit.
"After about three months of not kicking a ball, I again began feeling that I wanted to play soccer, so I joined the team at my senior high school and tried to do my best. I never want to go through such an experience again.
"I still want to be part of the national team and I don't want anyone else to wear the No.10 shirt. I don't want to be overtaken. I'm afraid of failing, like my third year in junior high school. I am afraid of being passed by."
