Despite the result, Shinji Kagawa took to Facebook to reveal that he achieved one of his dreams playing for Manchester United at Everton.
The Japanese playmaker shone in United’s 1-0 defeat and almost set up Tom Cleverley for an equaliser. But despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s side’s dour start to the season, Kagawa feels that more is to come:
“Four days ago one of my dreams finally came true. Playing what I love to do in the Premier League. We ended up losing but as I train more and immerse myself into the club and communicate more with team-mates, I’m confident that the great outcomes will follow naturally.
“[On] the match day it surely was a big day but I wasn’t nervous at all. But even though there were some good performances, they don’t mean much if they don’t lead to goals.”
Kagawa had expected to be a substitute but played the whole 90 minutes:
“Considering the atmosphere of the practice sessions, I was thinking that I would be starting off from the bench, not on the pitch,” he said. “But it turned out to be the opposite – playing the full 90 minutes.”
Despite the result on Monday, Kagawa is expecting a change of fortunes for United tomorrow against Fulham at Old Trafford:
“Time flies and the second match, against Fulham, is coming up tomorrow [Saturday]. It’s a home match, a beloved home match. As I experienced in Cerezo Osaka, Borussia Dortmund [his two former clubs] and the Japan national team, the atmosphere and environment of a home match is nothing but great for the club. With this home advantage, all I want is nothing but to win the match.”