Moyes to blame for Kagawa troubles at United: Nakata

IN KUALA LUMPUR

If Shinji Kagawa hasn’t managed to break into Manchester United’s first-team this season, it’s because of David Moyes.
 
That was retired Japanese football icon Hidetoshi Nakata’s suggestion when asked to comment on his compatriot’s lack of playing time under the beleaguered manager.
 
“I don’t know if he’s really struggling,” said Nakata, 37, speaking to media after a charity match in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “Football is not easy… It’s not only (about) performances. Sometimes it depends on the coaches, sometimes it depends on the team.”
 
The Red Devils have suffered a torrid first season without Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm: after being eliminated from both the League and FA Cup, they are currently toiling in seventh place, 18 points behind leaders Chelsea.
 
And in the process Kagawa, 25, has been – some say criminally – shunted down the midfield pecking order, behind the likes of Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj.

 
Having spent the bulk of his career in Europe, Nakata, often hailed as Japan’s answer to David Beckham, sympathises with his countryman’s plight.
 
“Even for me, playing for a long time in Italy, I had good times and difficult times with different coaches. Even Mr (Fabio) Capello,” he smiled, nodding toward the Italian manager who was also in attendance at the event, which leads up to the Laureus World Sports Awards to be held Wednesday evening in KL.
 
Nakata spent seven seasons in Italy and won the league title in 2001 with AS Roma, who were coached by Capello then. He later joined English side Bolton Wanderers for a year before leaving the game at the tender age of 29, but with his reputation intact as arguably the most famous Asian footballer ever.
 
“The most important thing is, you don’t lose your way,” said Nakata. “Always, you train every day (sic), to be ready for the next chance.”