ABU DHABI: On the back of a productive warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi, Manchester City women’s team have had a mixed bag of results, dropping to fourth in the Women’s Super League, while also advancing to the semifinals of the League Cup.
After going unbeaten in the first 10 games of their 2024-2025 campaign, City have been rocked by a spate of injuries with Dutch summer signing Vivianne Miedema and England international Lauren Hemp both undergoing knee surgeries, and WSL lead-scorer Khadija Shaw sustaining a lower leg injury that has sidelined her since early December.
City’s recent derby loss to Manchester United may have all but ended their WSL title hopes, but they still have plenty to play for in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, while chasing a top-two finish in the WSL to secure a place in Europe next season.
Japanese star midfielder Yui Hasegawa admits the club is going through a tough period with injuries, but is still hopeful they can secure some silverware this season.
Hasegawa, 27, joined City from West Ham in September 2022 on a three-year deal and signed a contract extension last January that will keep her at the Academy Stadium until the summer of 2027.
The Japan international is considered one of the best footballers in the world and is a pivotal figure on Gareth Taylor’s squad.
Arab News recently caught up with Hasegawa at Emirates Palace to discuss her career, her time at Manchester City, and her goals for the future with both club and country.
Q: You’ve played in Japan, Italy and the UK, so you have experience seeing the development of women’s football across the globe. In your opinion, what is the state of women’s football right now compared to when you first entered?
YH: When I started playing football, I knew how big football was in the US and I was very inspired and fascinated by the American soccer community. However, when I started high school, I started to know how amazing the European football leagues are, and I really wanted to join them. Now, I’m with one of the biggest club teams and I’m extremely happy. I’m still going to try my best in my football career.
Q: What was the biggest challenge that you faced when you first left Japan and went to play football at AC Milan in Italy?
YH: When I first went to Italy, the biggest challenge was the language and also the cultural difference. The football culture in Italy was also very different from what I was used to and I couldn’t really play in my own style. The relation with my surroundings was different. It was still football but different football. I couldn’t play the best in my own style. I faced a lot of challenges; I couldn’t really connect with the people around me either. However, because I went to Italy, now I feel like I have improved and grown from that challenge as well.
Q: What is life like for you in England and what is your experience like with Manchester City so far?
YH: When I played in Italy or West Ham, I always had this dream of playing for Manchester City and being with this club. I can really play in my own style. I’m very, very happy. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity. For the lifestyle, I have two other Japanese players on the same team, so the three of us cook together and eat Japanese food. I’m really happy with the changes.
Q: When you talk about your style of football, how do you describe it? I read in an interview that you are a big fan of Andres Iniesta, and I’m curious; are you inspired by his style or how do you describe your own style?
YH: Of course, Iniesta was my inspiration. He has great technique. He can go against the opponents, he contributes to a goal when it is really important, he leads his teammates to bring to the goal, all these are things that I like. That’s how he inspired me. My style is that I want the audience to really enjoy my football and also lately I’m not just contributing to the offense; I think my strength is that I’m contributing to the defense as well. I’m trying to develop more a sharp sense of prediction.
Q: How confident are you in City’s chances of claiming silverware this season?
YH: The stage of my team at the moment; there are some injured players, so I realize that it might be difficult but I want to take it one game at a time and I am determined to win each game. I’m very confident. As a team as a whole, we are determined to win every game from now on.
Q: After England won the Euros, did you feel that the attention in women’s football in the UK has gotten bigger?
YH: I do feel so. Compared to West Ham, I feel like there is a lot more attention on me being at Manchester City and I feel that this team, the players individually, are all stars and each one of them have their own fans. I also noticed that a lot of children always call their names. I feel that the result is very, very important from the Euros.
Q: When you started playing football in Japan, there was no professional women’s league. What gave you the idea that this is something you wanted to pursue, even though you didn’t even have a professional league to look up to?
YH: When I started playing football when I was young, I always watched the men’s game. I didn’t know if there was a professional league in Japan but I just wanted to go pro. When I grew up to junior high school age, I was very surprised that there are women players that work for a company and they play in the company league. So I felt like even if this is my path, I wanted to continue playing football. And now, it’s my profession and I’m very grateful and I want to enjoy what I do.
Q: In Japan, there are some big names in women’s sport right now. There is someone like you, who is one of the best midfielders in the world. There is Naomi Osaka. How do you feel to be part of this generation of strong Japanese women in sport?
YH: I still wonder if I’m actually part of this group of Japanese star athletes, but I feel like outside of Japan, I get more recognized and valued, especially last year and this year. I feel that maybe in Japanese culture, female athletes are still not as valued in Japan. But I just want to be a female athlete that children can be inspired by and I want to bring good results as well.
Q: How much have you heard about the football scene in this part of the world for women? In Saudi Arabia, they are putting a lot of effort into the league over there and there is an Asian Champions League now as well, featuring a team from Abu Dhabi. Are you following much and how do you see the room for growth for women’s football in this region?
YH: I recognize that women’s football in the Middle East is still developing and women aren’t necessarily at the forefront. If I can contribute to making that place recognizable for female athletes, I would really love to contribute, and I would like to help in every way that I can and make a place to make female athletes more valued, not only in football but in sports in general.
Q: What are your biggest goals and dreams with Japan and with Manchester City?
YH: With Man City, of course winning the league is my goal at the moment. I have always wanted to play in the Champions League and in my favorite style of playing football, so winning the Champions League would be a goal for me as well. As for Japan, we have a new foreign coach for the first time (Danish coach Nils Nielsen) and we would like to bring back that 2011 (World Cup) winning moment once again. I would also like to contribute to the improvement of football culture in Japan.