Okazaki Grateful After Seizing Opportunity

- Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki scored the winner in Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Everton
- Japan forward thanks manager Claudio Ranieri for his continued faith in him
- Leicester sit top of the Premier League at Christmas for the first time
- Okazaki targets more goals to supplement his well-known work rate
Shinji Okazaki thanked manager Claudio Ranieri for his faith after his goal at Everton secured Leicester City’s place as the Barclays Premier League’s Christmas leaders.
Okazaki’s third goal of the season proved decisive in Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Toffees, while the Japanese international’s performance fully justified his reintroduction, having only started one of the Foxes’ previous six Premier League games.
The summer signing from Mainz feels his reputation, and his return to the side, has been built on hard work, but he now wants to prove himself as a goalscorer in English football.
“I believe I came back into the team because I have trained hard and performed well in practice sessions,” Shinji told the media after Saturday’s game.
“Leo [Ulloa] has been performing brilliantly for the past two matches, so I appreciate the manager not giving up on me and giving me a chance.
“I’m aware that I have managed to gain a reputation as a hard worker, but my aim now is to be recognised as a goalscorer as well.”
Okazaki’s goal was as devastating for Everton as it was galvanising for City. Shortly after Riyad Mahrez’s second penalty of the afternoon had regained the Foxes’ lead, Okazaki was alive to a turnover and ghosted into space to clinically dispatch a pass from strike partner Jamie Vardy.
Shinji felt the goal was a reward for his decision to take a more positive approach to the game and seize the opportunity he had been given.
“The first touch wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough to score,” he confessed.
“Before the start of the game, I decided not be afraid to make a mistake and push myself forward and become more dominant in the game. As a result, I feel this goal was my reward for this change in strategy. I really wanted to score a goal today, so I feel such relief now.
“I also appreciate the presence of Jamie and recognise his ability and skill in predicting my position and helping to set up goals.”