Ao Tanaka arrived this past summer from Fortuna Düsseldorf, but the team’s depth has prevented the Japan native from getting his chance in the Leeds United midfield.
Tanka got his first significant minutes last month against Coventry City, where he played 49 minutes for Leeds after he came off the bench for the injured Ethan Ampadu. The midfielder had 39 touches while completing 30 of 32 passes and recording 94 pass competition percentage.
Moreover, Tanaka won three of his four duels while also having two tackles and two interceptions. Earlier this month, the Japanese native received his first start against Norwich City playing the full 90 minutes.
In the match, the 26-year-old had 80 touches and completed 59 of 65 passes for 91 percent pass completion. Furthermore, he won five of eight ground duels while having three tackles, one interception, and one clearance.
Ao Tanaka gives an honest assessment of his game
When Tanaka returns to Leeds, they could be seeing a more motivated player after the midfielder rubbed shoulders with some talented teammates during this international window.
The 26-year-old recognizes areas of his game that need improvement, especially after seeing Hidemasa Morita and Wataru Endo impress in midfield. However, Tanaka is confident that he’ll keep growing, particularly after his move to Elland Road this summer.
“Personally, I have many issues to work on”, he told Japanese outlet SoccerKing. “When I watch players like [Hidemasa] Morita and [Wataru] Endo, I feel that there is still a lot I need to do and a lot of room to grow.
“I can feel it not only from players in the same position but also from players in other positions. My defensive style isn’t particularly flashy, but conversely, I need to keep trying. As I’m playing in England, I think that this is something I’ll continue to improve in. I’m looking forward to seeing how much I can grow.”
These next few months could be crucial for Tanaka to establish himself as a key player for Leeds, especially with the number of injuries to their midfield. If Tanaka stays healthy and grows as a player, that will be a massive boost to the Yorkshire side.
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