Japanese media reacts to Ao Tanaka’s performance vs Paraguay as Leeds star hooked off after incident
Ao Tanaka has endured mixed fortunes since stepping up to the Premier League with Leeds United.
Tanaka was a regular starter for Leeds last season, and that continued in the opening two Premier League matches against Everton and Arsenal.
However, Tanaka was injured in the Gunners loss, and since he has returned, the Japanese ace has been restricted in terms of his starting opportunities for the Elland Road outfit.
The form of Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff for Leeds have kept the 25-year-old out of the team, as Daniel Farke cannot drop them at the moment.
Ao Tanaka struggles away from Leeds United
Tanaka had hoped to impress away from Leeds in the international break, and earn his place back in Farke’s team once they return to action.
However, he was replaced after 78 minutes in Japan’s 2-2 draw with Paraguay on 10 October after he was booked for an incident with Sunderland’s Omar Alderete.
Football Channel Japan still gave Tanaka a 6.5 out of 10 rating, despite the booking, saying: “Power up in England, obviously, became stronger in the competition at the ball.”
Daniel Farke faces a tough selection decision with Tanaka
Tanaka’s quality is well known, after his brilliant form in the Championship last season, but Farke faces a touch decision.
The Japanese star will want to start regularly, to keep himself in the national team for the World Cup, and to showcase his talent.
- Tanaka started 37 league matches in the second tier in the last campaign, with 43 appearances all together
- He has started just twice in the top-flight this season, after suffering an injury in matchweek two
- Played a total of 181 minutes in the league this season
However, the form of Stach and Longstaff means that Farke will probably not be willing to drop them at this point, and the former Fortuna Dusseldorf ace will have a challenge on his hands to get back in.
Tanaka needs to constantly impress in training and not let his levels drop if he is to get back into the side anytime soon.
His latest international performance will not help his cause, even if the media believes he has gotten stronger in his time in LS11.
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