Ao Tanaka issues defiant message after Japan loss to Brazil as compatriots rally | OneFootball

Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka has issued a defiant message after Japan’s last-32 defeat by Brazil, accepting blame and vowing to respond. The player said in a post that “I will face it all head-on”.

The knockout tie in Houston, Texas, was level at 1-1 when the 27-year-old won the ball from Endrick on the edge of his own area, only to be dispossessed moments later as Brazil struck the winner. Team-mates and Manchester United attacker Matheus Cunha consoled him at full-time.

Tanaka’s emotion has been evident before. He wept after a 1-1 draw at Luton Town late in Leeds’ title-winning Championship campaign, has been openly self critical online, and admitted in a pre-World Cup interview that a spell on the sidelines made him consider leaving Elland Road.

On Instagram he took responsibility for the error, saying his ability was not good enough on the night and expressing gratitude to team-mates, staff and supporters.

Support arrived quickly. Takumi Minamino and Ko Itakura replied, “Just do it”, while Hidemasa Morita responded with a phoenix emoji.

Tanaka has previously likened himself to a phoenix when describing his return from a brief wilderness spell to help Leeds in the season’s final third. Team-mates Jayden Bogle, Willy Gnonto and Anton Stach liked his post, as did the departed Pascal Struijk and Illan Meslier.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk