December 30 – Japanese players have leapt to the defence of head coach Javier Aguirre after the Mexican vehemently denied any involvement in a match-fixing scandal during the time he worked in Spain.
Aguirre was among 41 people named by Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutor following a probe into Real Zaragoza’s 2-1 win at Levante on the final day of the 2010-11 campaign that ensured Zaragoza, coached by Aguirre at the time, avoided relegation.
Aguirre’s alleged involvement has overshadowed Japan’s preparations for next month’s Asian Cup. He was only appointed in July and leads the country into group games against Palestine, Iraq and Jordan.
Aguirre, who also coached Atletico Madrid, is trying to concentrate on winning a fifth Asian Cup title for Japan and the country’s most capped player Yasuhito Endo was quoted as saying after the squad met up for training: “He has said he didn’t do it, so he didn’t do it.”
Borussia Dortmund’s former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa added: “We have to believe what the coach has told us and follow his lead.”
Japan’s skipper Makoto Hasebe (pictured) said the whole squad was behind Aguirre.
“The coach spoke directly to us and because of that his words will stick in our minds.
“It is important that the players and the coach have mutual trust. The coach loves soccer and that is the same for all of us and he said he would never betray soccer.”
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