PSV player speaks ambition: “That’s what I’m working toward right now.”

Since his debut against Excelsior on 15 August of this year, Kodai Sano has been impossible to imagine missing from PSV’s lineup. After Sano’s first start in the home match against FC Groningen, the Japanese player played the full ninety minutes in every match.

Despite a strong season at NEC, the midfielder was not selected for Japan's World Cup squad last summer. In an interview with Voetbal International, the PSV summer signing, who is now selected for the friendly internationals against Uruguay, Venezuela and Paraguay, speaks out for the first time about the World Cup that slipped through.

Were former teammates Koki Ogawa and Kento Shiogai allowed to go to North America. ''Honestly, I was only truly disappointed for a short moment. My brother Kaishu was selected, just like Koki and Kento. I was very happy for them above all. That I wasn’t there was my problem. No, I wasn’t angry, because it was the decision of the national team coach, not mine. At that time, he found others better,'' says Sano.

Over four years, the PSV player hopes to be involved in the global final tournament, provided that Japan qualifies. ''We have so many good players who play in Europe and keep getting better. And in four years I want to be at the World Cup on the pitch in midfield with my brother in Japan. Sano and Sano. That's what I'm working towards now'', continues the midfielder.

In addition, Sano is also looking forward to the clash with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. ''When I saw the draw, I felt all kinds of things. A lot of emotion. I also had to laugh and thought: Wow, what is this? Atlético Madrid. Real Madrid. Playing at the Bernabéu, honestly, I still can’t quite picture it. Normally I’m not quickly nervous for a match, maybe now I am. I’m very curious whether I can quickly adapt to the required level'', the Japanese player is candid.

Finally, the midfielder expresses his confidence in PSV’s European campaign. ''But it’s not that I’m already counting points in my head. That doesn’t make sense. There are opportunities to win in every match. But if you don’t play well yourself, you can also lose to opponents you really shouldn’t lose to. That’s why I never think about it that way and I always go onto the pitch with the same mindset. I do have a lot of confidence in our Champions League campaign, but that comes from the qualities of our squad,'' said Sano.