Yukinari Sugawara: Cagliari are like Sardinia's national team; I must improve defensively in Serie A

“I am very happy to be here.” Cagliari's Japanese newcomer Yukinari Sugawara said in an interview with the Sardinian club's official channel: “I had to make a decision very quickly just a few days before the transfer window closed, but it was easy. When Cagliari contacted me, I immediately said yes.”

What does moving to Serie A mean?

“I have always wanted to play in Serie A because there have been many excellent Japanese players here, such as Yuto Nagatomo, Keisuke Honda, Hidetoshi Nakata, and many others.”

Did you ask Hatzidiakos for advice?

“I asked him about Sardinia and Cagliari, and he only said many positive things. Before the transfer I did not have time to speak with the coach because I had almost no time to make a decision, but everyone told me Cagliari was a very good situation, and I really wanted to come here. Cagliari truly is the symbol of this island. People love it and support it with everything they have. Without a doubt, it is like the Sardinia national team.”

What are your first impressions of Cagliari?

“You can see the sun every day, and the weather is often great. My teammates, the coaching staff and the fans have all been very polite, positive and friendly toward me. I am really happy to be here. As the coach said, I am a player who also has attacking qualities, but I am not only that. I think I also have good ability in possession and build-up play. I can play centrally and I can also move out wide, but the position itself is not the most important thing. I like being involved in attack, which is one of my strengths, but more importantly, I want to help the team with my abilities, such as crosses and final passes.”

“I also like fighting for the team. I always want to win matches and win important duels during games. I think my best position is right-back because it allows me to contribute in both attack and defense. I like being involved in matches, and I like running a lot and always being ready for the team.”

What kind of player are you?

“There are still many areas where I need to improve because I am not a perfect player. If I want to become stronger, I have to continue training hard. Serie A values tactics more than other places, especially on the defensive side. So I must continue working on those areas and help the team as much as possible.”

Italy is the fourth country of your football career.

“Being able to play football in different countries is a wonderful experience. I have certainly experienced different styles of football, and there are many changes whenever you move to a new place. I have learned a lot. Every country has left something of its own with me. I have met and communicated with many players and people from different backgrounds, and I have truly learned to understand the cultures in which they grew up.”

“Before I first arrived in Europe, I could not speak English or Dutch, but now I can speak both much better, and I also know a little German. Now I have started learning Italian as well. My world has changed greatly. As time passes, my life changes too, like everyone else's. I can say for certain that my world has become bigger.”

You have played at the World Cup. What was the experience like?

“It is every child's dream because it is the most important competition. Since I started playing football, I have always wanted to participate in the World Cup. Walking onto the pitch for the first time against the Netherlands was the most important moment of my football career. I was playing in the World Cup and it felt like a dream. I will never forget that moment.”

You are the only Japanese player in this season's Serie A.

“Coming to Serie A from outside Europe is not easy. I am truly grateful to Cagliari because they signed me and used one of their available slots for me. I am very thankful to the president, the coach and the sporting director, as well as the entire club. I am currently the only Japanese player playing in Serie A. Actually, I did not know this before. When the possibility came up, I really thought there would be other Japanese players, but in the end I was the only one left here.”

“Maybe because of that, I have to give everything and do my best to leave an important mark in Italy. If I do not play well, people may think Japanese players are not good enough. But if I perform well, more people will understand that Japanese players have quality. Maybe in the future the number of Japanese players in Italy will increase again as it did a few years ago. I just want to do my best in every training session and every match, and give everything every day.”

Is Hidetoshi Nakata your role model?

“He is one of the most important names in Japan because he helped Roma win the Serie A title and scored the decisive goal in that unforgettable match against Juventus, which happened in 2001. Every time Nakata and Serie A are mentioned in Japan, people immediately take notice. He is certainly a role model, someone who truly succeeded and represented Japan to the world as a top professional player. Becoming a player like him? Of course, that would be the best, but everything depends on hard work and the ambition to always achieve more.”

Has Cagliari's popularity increased in Japan?

“I am really happy to see this attention. It is a good thing, but I want to emphasize that I have not actually played for Cagliari yet. I must first prove that I deserve this team, and then the people watching can decide and evaluate how I perform. Japanese media and social media are also very interested in Cagliari. Perhaps some people are hearing about Cagliari and Sardinia for the first time. The name and value of Cagliari are becoming more and more known in Japan. This is good for me and for the club. I am happy to see all of this, but first I want to help the team as a player, because above all I am a footballer.”

Has anyone asked you about Captain Tsubasa?

“I watched and read it when I was a child because it is the most famous football anime. Honestly, I did not expect it to be so well known in Italy and Europe. People immediately ask me about Captain Tsubasa, and I did not expect them to know so much about it. I am a little surprised, but it is always nice when the staff at your new club talks with you about things from Japan, such as anime, food, culture and cities.”