It was probably the most talked about winter transfer in the Allianz Women’s Bundesliga. Two-time winners and table toppers VfL Wolfsburg swooped for Japanese star Yuki Ogimi. The 27-year-old World Champion from 2011 arrived from Chelsea and had previously played for Turbine Potsdam. The Japanese striker spoke to us ahead of the upcoming game against second bottom MSV Duisburg today (18:00 CET) about…
…her first impressions of VfL Wolfsburg: They’re all positive. Everything here is extremely professional. The level is really high. I’m happy that I made the decision to come here. There is one thing that I’m not quite happy with yet and that’s my own performances. There is still a lot more to come.
…the reasons for the move back to the Allianz Women’s Bundesliga: The football in England didn’t really suit me. They play by using a lot of long balls and therefore I wasn’t able to have enough influence on the game. You also notice that the league in England is going through development, which isn’t the case in Germany.
…her goals with VfL Wolfsburg: The most important aim for me is that I can develop every day. I’m convinced that everything else will happen automatically. I would obviously like to win as many titles as possible and we’re still on track to do that. Our position in the Allianz Women’s Bundesliga is excellent. We’re in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The triple would be a dream come true.
…the game against MSV Duisburg: We should come out on top against Duisburg, even if they are second bottom. I’m convinced that MSV have more potential. There are no easy games in Germany. That’s a pleasing development. We have to be fully concentrated on the game in order to come away with the three points. And that’s very important as FC Bayern are hot on our heels.
…her time at Chelsea: It was informative and it wasn’t a bad choice to move there. If I look back now then I can say that I had a good time. However, I realised that I love football in Germany and that was missing playing in England. I’m happy to be back.
…her first time in Germany with Turbine Potsdam: It was hard for me to begin with. I came straight from Japan and it was a huge change. I had the impression that I was living in a whole new world. I knew hardly anyone and couldn’t speak a word of German. At times I had to grit my teeth and I’m proud of that. I took a lot of things away from my time with Potsdam and under manager Bernd Schröder that made me stronger. There was no chance that I would return to Turbine over the winter. I wanted to experience something new and to develop in a new environment.
…the relationship with her sister Asano Nagasato, who plays for Turbine: We talk on the phone every day, sometimes more often than that. We also meet up once or twice a month, once in Wolfsburg and once in Potsdam. It’s great that Asano is in Germany too as it makes things easier. She has developed well at Turbine and feels comfortable there- which is why she extended her contract until 2017.
…the football in Germany: For me, the Allianz Women’s Bundesliga is the best league in Europe in every respect. There is a high tempo and tactics are becoming more and more important at the same time. I can compare it to England and I have to say that the football in Germany is the best.
…the significance of football in Japan: It’s come on a lot since we won the World Cup in 2011. More and more women are now playing football. The first division in Japan is becoming more professional. The first foreigners are now beginning to play in Japan, especially players from the USA. Japanese players are now starting to be able to make a living out of football and that’s a step in the right direction.
…the World Cup in Canada in the summer: We go into the tournament as defending champions and therefore there is a lot of pressure. But we’re looking forward to the challenge. I’m convinced that we can do well. My dream would be to play in the final against Germany.
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It was probably the most talked about winter transfer in the Allianz Women’s Bundesliga. Two-time winners and table toppers VfL Wolfsburg swooped for Japanese star Yuki Ogimi. The 27-year-old World Champion from 2011 arrived from Chelsea and had previously played for Turbine Potsdam. The Japanese striker spoke to us ahead of the upcoming game against second bottom MSV Duisburg today (18:00 CET) about…
…her first impressions of VfL Wolfsburg: They’re all positive. Everything here is extremely professional. The level is really high. I’m happy that I made the decision to come here. There is one thing that I’m not quite happy with yet and that’s my own performances. There is still a lot more to come.
…the reasons for the move back to the Allianz Women’s Bundesliga: The football in England didn’t really suit me. They play by using a lot of long balls and therefore I wasn’t able to have enough influence on the game. You also notice that the league in England is going through development, which isn’t the case in Germany.
…her goals with VfL Wolfsburg: The most important aim for me is that I can develop every day. I’m convinced that everything else will happen automatically. I would obviously like to win as many titles as possible and we’re still on track to do that. Our position in the Allianz Women’s Bundesliga is excellent. We’re in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The triple would be a dream come true.
…the game against MSV Duisburg: We should come out on top against Duisburg, even if they are second bottom. I’m convinced that MSV have more potential. There are no easy games in Germany. That’s a pleasing development. We have to be fully concentrated on the game in order to come away with the three points. And that’s very important as FC Bayern are hot on our heels.
…her time at Chelsea: It was informative and it wasn’t a bad choice to move there. If I look back now then I can say that I had a good time. However, I realised that I love football in Germany and that was missing playing in England. I’m happy to be back.
…her first time in Germany with Turbine Potsdam: It was hard for me to begin with. I came straight from Japan and it was a huge change. I had the impression that I was living in a whole new world. I knew hardly anyone and couldn’t speak a word of German. At times I had to grit my teeth and I’m proud of that. I took a lot of things away from my time with Potsdam and under manager Bernd Schröder that made me stronger. There was no chance that I would return to Turbine over the winter. I wanted to experience something new and to develop in a new environment.
…the relationship with her sister Asano Nagasato, who plays for Turbine: We talk on the phone every day, sometimes more often than that. We also meet up once or twice a month, once in Wolfsburg and once in Potsdam. It’s great that Asano is in Germany too as it makes things easier. She has developed well at Turbine and feels comfortable there- which is why she extended her contract until 2017.
…the football in Germany: For me, the Allianz Women’s Bundesliga is the best league in Europe in every respect. There is a high tempo and tactics are becoming more and more important at the same time. I can compare it to England and I have to say that the football in Germany is the best.
…the significance of football in Japan: It’s come on a lot since we won the World Cup in 2011. More and more women are now playing football. The first division in Japan is becoming more professional. The first foreigners are now beginning to play in Japan, especially players from the USA. Japanese players are now starting to be able to make a living out of football and that’s a step in the right direction.
…the World Cup in Canada in the summer: We go into the tournament as defending champions and therefore there is a lot of pressure. But we’re looking forward to the challenge. I’m convinced that we can do well. My dream would be to play in the final against Germany.
