“I’ve really enjoyed my first week” | OneFootball

Ritsu Doan explains the reasons behind his move to Eintracht, describes his style of play and sheds light on his initial talks with Dino Toppmöller.

Ritsu Doan on …

…his move to Eintracht: “The talks went very well. The coach, Dino Toppmöller, explained how he wanted to use me properly. I was delighted with the effort the management put into signing me. That’s why I opted for Eintracht Frankfurt. The longer the negotiations went on, the more I felt drawn to Eintracht.”

…his first few days in Frankfurt: “The players, coaching team and staff have welcomed me with open arms. At the Family Day on Wednesday, I got to see the fans in large numbers for the first time and really got to know them. I’ve really enjoyed my first week.”

…his style of play: “I feel my greatest strength is shooting with my left foot. I was able to demonstrate that last season – and the stats prove it. In Freiburg, our tactics were very much geared towards me, although not until my third season. I don’t expect it to be the same in Frankfurt right away. On the flip side, I also want to help feed my team-mates so that everyone benefits.”

…his new and former team-mate Mario Götze: “After Eintracht first got in touch with me, Mario and I weren’t constantly talking about the move. Whenever we met on matchdays, though, he’d say: ‘I’m waiting for you! When are you coming? Why haven’t you signed yet?’ Generally speaking, I’ve felt welcome in Frankfurt from the outset.”

…Compatriot Makoto Hasebe: “Makoto is a proper legend in Frankfurt and an even bigger one in Japan. Unfortunately, Makoto had already retired from international football by the time I was first called up, so we never played together. Even so, he’s a great role model.”

…his diet: “Japanese culture is different to European culture, and that also applies to food habits. Three or four years ago, I started working with my own chef in Eindhoven. It’s important to me to enjoy my food and prioritise my sporting career. In the Netherlands, I’d come home after training at 5 or 6 pm and wanted to use the time to recover instead of having to go shopping or cook. It worked out well and I’m glad my chef is still with me. We’ll obviously follow the team’s schedule.”

…his biggest influences: “In terms of movement and running, I learned the most in Freiburg from [former coach] Christian Streich and [Streich’s successor] Julian Schuster. They helped me become the player I am today.”