Shunsuke Nakamura – “Privilege to be a Celt”

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Nakamura: It's a privilege to be a Celt

Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura believes the wide range of attacking options available to manager Gordon Strachan has been the key to their impressive start to the season.

The Hoops moved eight points clear of Hearts at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with a 2-1 win over Motherwell on Saturday and with rivals Rangers floundering a further two points behind, many pundits believe the title race is already over.

And the Parkhead men are on course to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages for the first time after their 3-0 win over Benfica last week left them in second place behind Manchester United in Group F with six points from three games.

The 28-year-old has been instrumental in the SPL champions’ success so far this season and Strachan pointed out that the Japan international had been involved in eight of the last nine Celtic goals against Dundee United, Benfica and Motherwell.
However, Nakamura told www.celticfc.net that opponents have struggled to cope with the different challenges that his talented team-mates provide going forward.
He said: "It is a privilege to work with so many talented players and to play in a team like this.

"We’ve got a strong squad at Celtic with so many great midfielders and forwards.

"All the players, such as Kenny Miller, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Aiden McGeady, Maciej Zurawski and Shaun Maloney are top quality players and they each have a different style.

"It means we can vary our play and the manager can easily change the shape and system.

"It makes our attacking play more unpredictable and makes it easier for me to create chances.

"Teams don’t know which way we are going to attack them from, because of the variation in our play.

"It’s a pleasure to be part of a team that plays in this style."

Nakamura revealed that football fans in his homeland have been able to follow the Hoops’ Champions League adventures via television this season.

Celtic travel to Lisbon next week knowing victory would give them nine points and all but secure qualification through to the knockout stages of the tournament.

Even a draw against Benfica would leave them in a strong position going into the final two Group F matches.

The midfielder hopes next Wednesday will not be the last time viewers in Japan will see him perform in Europe’s elite club competition.

He said: "All the matches are shown back home and the Champions League is a big thing in Japan.

"The Japanese people are getting to see Celtic play against the top European sides and I’m happy about that.

"Not many Japanese players play in the Champions League. I’ve now managed to play in three matches and managed to win two of them.

"I’ve had a great experience so far and that was one of the reasons I joined Celtic in the first place.

"The next away game against Benfica is the crucial one. If we can get at least one point then I think we will have a good chance of getting into the last 16.

"I want to go as far as possible in the tournament.

"It would be great to reach the knockout stages and we have given ourselves a good chance."