Dreaming never hurt anyone, so Ritsu Doan does it out loud. He never expected that he would still be a footballer for PSV this season. And now there is that unique situation: The Japanese can take three more prizes with his team. And according to Doan, it will work.
“I want to win everything and we are going to win everything,” says Doan with conviction. “I really see it all happening. We are close on Ajax’s heels, the cup final is ‘only’ 90 minutes and the Conference League is also starting to come to life.”
According to him, there is also a certain belief within the group that anything is possible. “The coach has worked towards this moment. He has indicated countless times that we need to be in shape by April. We are now really good and we can write history.”
The Japanese continues his story. “Everyone thinks Ajax is unbeatable. That sometimes irritates me. I think we have already shown that we are a more than formidable competitor.”
Anyone who listens to the Japanese would spontaneously want to put their mortgage on the PSV championship, but the attacking footballer does have a caveat. “We will have to win everything in the competition. Once we lose once, it’s done.”
No one had foreseen that Doan is still playing football in Eindhoven this summer, including the player himself. The Japanese had a difficult period after his transfer from Groningen. A loan spell to Arminia Bielefeld worked wonders, but the attacker seemed to be leaving until he spoke to the trainer.
“I had indicated that I wanted to leave, but then there was a conversation with the trainer. He indicated that he needed me and that I could count on many playing minutes. I then had two options, believe him or leave. It’s hard to believe people in football. but still I stayed. I’m very happy with that.”
While we are talking to the PSV player, the Japan national team is playing its last game in the World Cup qualifiers. Because in addition to the fact that Doan dreams of Champions League football with PSV, there is another ambition: the World Cup.
“I am not selected now. I was upset about that. But it would be a great honor if I could go to the World Cup with Japan. But if I had to choose, I’d rather play the Champions League with PSV.”