I want to be like Rooney! Kagawa targets more success at Old Trafford

By Matthew Morlidge

PUBLISHED: 06:29 EST, 13 June 2013 | UPDATED: 09:51 EST, 13 June 2013


Shinji Kagawa wishes to be more like wantaway team-mate Wayne Rooney, along with Robin van Persie, as he aims to have a stronger second season at Manchester United.

The Japanese midfielder struggled to come to grips with the pace of the Premier League last season, scoring six goals in his 20 appearances for United.

But with huge doubts surrounding Rooney’s future at Old Trafford, the 24-year-old may get more of a chance to shine under David Moyes’ leadership in the next campaign.

Replacement from within? Kagawa wants to model on his game on Rooney, who could leave this summer

Replacement from within? Kagawa wants to model on his game on Rooney, who could leave this summer

Disappointment? Kagawa came to these shores with a glowing reputation from his Dortmund days
Disappointment? Kagawa came to these shores with a glowing reputation from his Dortmund days

Disappointment? Kagawa came to these shores with a glowing reputation from his Dortmund days

A lot was expected from Kagawa following his £16million switch from Borussia Dortmund last summer, who was a key cog in the then Bundesliga champions' team.

Star: There could be a slot behind RVP next season

Star: There could be a slot behind RVP next season

However, he wasn’t happy with his performances in Manchester, even though the team collected a 20th Premier League title.

‘I wasn’t satisfied with my overall performance, but I played well in the second half of the season and started to get more and more confidence,’ said Kagawa.

‘Hopefully, I can keep that going at the Confederations Cup. In this business, you need to be like Rooney or Van Persie and prove yourself if you want the ball.

‘I want to be a player like them, which means I need results.’

Van Persie’s form as the leading striker meant that any one accompanying him up top would have to settle for a deeper role, something Rooney is thought to be frustrated with.

Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with the striker, and the possible sale could mean more chances in a favoured position for Kagawa.

He struggled with a knee injury which sidelined him in November and December, but former United defender Gary Neville has backed Kagawa to establish himself in Moyes’ set up.

Goal threat: Kagawa scored 6 goals in the PL, including a hat-trick against Norwich, and Neville expects more

Goal threat: Kagawa scored 6 goals in the PL, including a hat-trick against Norwich, and Neville expects more

‘Kagawa will be better next season,’ said Neville. ‘Towards the end of this season he showed glimpses of what he could do.

‘He’s an intelligent player with good energy, he can spot a run and his own runs are excellent.

‘He’s tidy on the ball, he can get out of tight situations and I think we’ll see more of a goalscoring influence and a final-third impact next season.’

Inspiration: Kagawa is one of the stars in a fine Japan team, who will be in action at the Confederations Cup

Inspiration: Kagawa is one of the stars in a fine Japan team, who will be in action at the Confederations Cup

Kagawa helped Japan to become the first country to qualify for next summer’s World Cup, and is now focused on Japans Confederations Cup opener against hosts Brazil on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas has rubbished claims he could be on his way to Old Trafford, insisting he is more than happy to stay at Barcelona.

 

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He must be off his head.

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Does he mean trophies or over weight, bald and with a penchant for ageing brass?

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Does he mean being like Rooney with a bald head or having camel hair transplant? - Khemil77 , Liverpool, United Kingdom, 13/6/2013 17:30.....think he means EPL medals ....just think Kagawa has more EPL medals than the entire LFC squad combined....and this is his first season....says a lot about the quality of LFC - Thirteenandcounting , wherewinnershailfromTrafford, United Kingdom......................Shut up fool stick the 5 European titles in your throat and chock Liverpool have better chances of even winning the EPL than you making it 5 european titles

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@Phillips, Reading. United fans have short memories? Rooney is not United's all time top scorer, he's not second either, or third. Sir Bobby Charlton is United's record scorer with 249 goals, if you had a better memory you'd remember the European Footballer of the year and World Cup winner. Dennis LAw and Jack Rowley have also scored more United goals than him, but again, if your memory was better you'd remember that. Oh, and his first poor season was this season? Your memory mustn't let you remember the 2010-11 season then yes? When he was shocking for most of the year, scoring just 11 league goals all season. So he's been poor in 2 of the last 3 seasons, but yes lets act like he's Gods gift to football.

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So, that's Mourinho, Messi, Neymar, Kagawa, Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva that have all extolled Rooneys talents in the last 3 weeks. Any more dullards want to try and argue otherwise? Or can we get over our obsession with over criticising English players, and Rooney in particular, and perhaps accept that the boy is gold.......

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Many utd fans have short memory. For Christ sake, Rooney is Man Utd all time highest goal scorer and deserves some respect. Why would Utd fans say Kagawa is better than Rooney? RVP is not even better than Rooney as far as consistency is concerned. RVP has only had two good seasons in EPL out of 7 while Rooney only had his first poor season for Utd last season in almost 9 years.

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his going to be better than rooney

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Does he mean being like Rooney with a bald head or having camel hair transplant? - Khemil77 , Liverpool, United Kingdom, 13/6/2013 17:30.....think he means EPL medals ....just think Kagawa has more EPL medals than the entire LFC squad combined....and this is his first season....says a lot about the quality of LFC

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And to think you utd muppets were saying youd prefer him over Hazard !!!!!!! Hahaha what a laugh, what a flop !- sculla25, Whowantstoknow, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, 13/6/2013 Well at least Kawaga doesn't kick ball boys..

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he gonna hold the club to ransom like his scouse colleague time for scouse man to go and should be booed for every touch he makes

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