Ao Tanaka issues defiant message after Japan exit as team-mates rally round | OneFootball

Ao Tanaka has issued a defiant message after Japan’s knockout defeat to Brazil, accepting blame for the decisive error. In an Instagram post, the Leeds United midfielder addressed the setback directly.

In the last-32 match in Houston, Texas, with the game at 1-1, the 27-year-old won the ball from Endrick on the edge of his area, was quickly dispossessed, and within seconds Japan conceded. He was consoled at full-time by team-mates and Matheus Cunha.

Tanaka vowed to face the moment head-on, said his own ability was not good enough on the night, and promised to rise again. He also expressed gratitude to his team-mates, staff and everyone who supported him.

His emotion has been visible before. After a 1-1 draw at Luton Town late in Leeds’ title-winning Championship campaign, he left the field in tears amid away-end frustration. He has been candid on social media and, before the World Cup, admitted he had considered leaving Elland Road during a spell on the sidelines last season.

Support arrived quickly. Takumi Minamino and Ko Itakura replied “Just do it”, while Hidemasa Morita used a phoenix emoji, a symbol Tanaka has applied to himself after his late-season return. Likes also came from Jayden Bogle, Willy Gnonto and Anton Stach, plus the recently departed Pascal Struijk and Illan Meslier.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk