Louis Thebault-Yamaguchi is the first-choice goalkeeper for Kawasaki Frontale, the Japanese club that will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the Asian Champions League semi-finals. Born to a French father and Japanese mother, and trained by FC Tokyo and FC Lorient, the 26-year-old goalkeeper is about to play the most important match of his career.
How do you feel about playing in a Champions League semi-final?
“To be honest, it’s going to be my first Champions League semi-final, so it’s a new experience, but I’m taking it as if it were a match like any other. I’m not putting any particular pressure on (playing ) them, even though they’re a club with big players and on paper they’re very strong, they have individual qualities that are far superior to ours perhaps. But no, I’m taking it rather calmly.”
Al Nassr is a club that’s been in the news a lot since Ronaldo‘s arrival…
“I think it’s a chance to make my name known to the general public, and not just in Japan but more internationally, so for me I’m taking it more as a chance, as an opportunity to put in a good performance.”
Is it scary facing a team with so many big stars, like Brozovic, Mane and Duran?
“I think it’s more the team in general; after all, each player has different qualities, so it’s not scary. I have to be more on the lookout for certain actions, perhaps shots from distance, shots that are completely different from those I might receive in Japan, dribbles, crosses…
“All these things will be different depending on the players on the pitch, so I just have to be attentive and I can’t be the only one paying attention. I have to direct my defence so that they too are alert to these options.”
Have you worked on any specific things?
“We haven’t done any special training or anything, because we haven’t had much time to prepare (they played their quarter-final on Sunday evening). Right now, it’s more a question of getting into 100% physical condition.
“But I think everyone knows Ronaldo. Everyone knows his style of play, even if it’s not the same Ronaldo as 10 years ago and you can see a few changes in his style of play. We shouldn’t just focus on him, but on the team in general and how they use their star players to win.”
How do you rate Al Nassr?
“They’re a good team, but of course, they’re not playing at the peak of their powers, so there’s bound to be a difference compared to what they’ve done in the past. The Saudi league isn’t as good as the top European leagues, but it’s true that it’s close.”
Conversely, what are Kawasaki ‘s strengths? You managed to knock out Qatari league leaders Al Sadd in the quarter-finals
“We have players with individual qualities, but I find that collective quality is superior to individual quality. So we know each other better, we know how to react in certain phases, whether it’s defensively or offensively. So I think that’s where we have a lot to play for. The Japanese style is to play together more, to make more of an effort defensively, to press and so on.”
Thebault-Yamaguchi during the quarter-final against Al Sadd on 27 April.ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Abdullah Ahmed
Do you feel the team is strong enough to go far?
“I think we have the potential to do great things. We don’t have to adapt and try to change our style of play because they are great players. On the contrary, I think we need to make things difficult for them, knowing that they haven’t necessarily had much experience of playing against Japanese teams.
“And I wouldn’t say that Japanese teams are ‘underrated’, but there are a lot of interesting things. They do a lot of things that are perhaps a little different from the norm, so they can spring a surprise. And in matches like that, that’s the most important thing and I think it’s one of our strengths.”
What was your objective in the Champions League?
“Our objective is to win it. To be honest, since the start of the season we’ve had four possible cups to win this year and we want all four.”
Talking of yourself, how did you end up as Kawasaki Frontale‘s first-choice keeper?
“I went out and got it, because it wasn’t easy. I worked hard for it. I started out playing football in Japan, with FC Tokyo, and then I spent three years at the FC Lorient training centre. I made my professional debut in Spain and then came back to Japan.
“When I came back to Japan it was complicated to find a first division club where I could have played from the start. And that’s what I was looking for, playing time. I preferred to drop down a level to get some playing time, which I got. And then little by little, I managed to climb the ladder and today I find myself as a first-team regular at this big club in Japan.”
You started out in Spain, but at the time it was complicated: you didn’t necessarily play much, you played for several clubs… Did you have any doubts?
“No, I didn’t have any doubts because I knew that these were experiences I had to go through, that I had to go through them to achieve what I wanted. And for a goalkeeper in particular, it’s very important to go through these stages.
“I think that all goalkeepers have gone through those stages, not getting much playing time and having to compete with a lot of other players. And despite that, I think it’s an experience I needed to have. I think that experience helped me to get this starting place today.”
Thebault-Yamaguchi during a J-League match against Nagoya GrampusKenichiro Ogane / AFLO / Profimedia
Did you want to go back to Japan afterwards? To be close to your family?
“Basically, I wanted to stay in Europe to reach the top European level, the very top European level, but I preferred to take a different route for that, which is what I’m doing at the moment.
“So it’s true that my decision wasn’t easy, to be honest, but the fact that my family is in Japan was an argument that weighed in the balance. And I have no regrets about coming back to Japan. On the contrary, I’m very happy. So it’s a plus for me that my family is close by.”
If you win all four trophies, maybe your performances will be noticed and you’ll be able to go back to Europe?
“Yeah, that’s definitely something I’m keeping in mind.”
If someone had told you when you left Lorient that you’d be playing in a Champions League semi-final against Ronaldo, would you have believed them?
“Oh no, to be honest, I don’t think so. I don’t think so at all. But that’s football. You never know what might happen. It’s a great opportunity. I can’t wait to play.”
Follow Al Nassr vs Kawasaki Frontale here
