On the eve of the friendly match between Kashima Antlers and Brighton, team manager Ranko Popovic was interviewed by the media, giving his thoughts on Kaoru Sanabi's performance, the overseas development of J-League-born players, and the upcoming match.
Coach Popovich was full of appreciation when he talked about Kaoru Sanfelt. He recalled that during his coaching period in Machida Zevia, when a European coaching friend asked if there were any outstanding players in Japan, the first thing he mentioned was the name of Kaoru Sannyaku. Popovich believes that the fact that Kaoru Sanfelt is able to gain a foothold in a high-level league like the English Premier League and make a big splash fully proves that his strength has been fairly evaluated. He is proud of Kaoru Sanfelt's outstanding performance in the EPL and expects him to continue to fight for the glory of Japanese soccer.
Coach Popovich has a clear understanding about the overseas development of players from the J-League. He acknowledged that many J-League players have proved the high level of the J-League in the world, which has won wider recognition for Japanese soccer. However, he also pointed out an undesirable phenomenon: some players simply aim to play abroad, but fail to continue their progress or even stagnate when they arrive. Popovic emphasized that overseas development is not a shortcut that can be achieved overnight, and that players need to have a clear career plan and sustained effort in order to succeed.
Finally, talking about the upcoming friendly match with Brighton, Coach Popovic showed a strong desire to win. He said that from the beginning of the season he has made it clear that for him there is no such thing as a friendly, every game is about Kashima's honor. He emphasized that this is a game that cannot be lost, and that the whole team will go all out for victory. Popovich's words certainly injected a strong motivation for the team and made the fans look forward to this game.
