The Japan international says that dropping down to J2 could prove beneficial, particularly for his old side's younger players, but only if lessons are learned

Shinji Kagawa has told his former club Cerezo Osaka that they have to “get serious” if they are to bounce straight back to J-League 1 following relegation.

Cerezo began last season full of promise, having qualified for the AFC Champions League in the previous campaign, and added Diego Forlan and, later, former Germany international Cacau to their squad.

However, their form tailed off horribly in the second half of the season and they were unable to avoid the drop.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Kagawa began his professional career with the southern Japanese club when he was just 17 and suffered relegation in his first season. He sees all-too familiar problems with the current set-up.

“Cerezo normally faces problems the year after a good season and it is an issue they have difficulty overcoming,” said Kagawa. “This problem is something the club has to take more seriously.

“It really is a shame when you consider that they have a wealth of young, raw talent. It is crucial that the team start the J2 season with such experience in mind.



"When I found myself in a similar situation, I made sure that I overcame the problems I faced, and promised myself I would never repeat the same mistakes. I want this side to also do the same.”

Cerezo ended the 2006 season, Kagawa’s first, in 17th place and the expectations then, as now, were that they would come back at the first attempt.

Satoshi Tsunami took over as coach, ditched a large number of seasoned pros and placed Kagawa in attack. However, things didn’t go to plan and it wasn’t until Levir Culpi was appointed manager in May 2007 that they began gradually to turn things around.

In came the young Takashi Inui (now at Frankfurt) and later the goalkeeper, Kim Jin-hyeon, who is still there today. Kagawa had already received international recognition and went on to finish the 2009 season - Cerezo’s third in the second tier - as top scorer with 27 goals. Finally, they returned to J1.

“From my own personal experience, I can tell you that things I achieved in the J2 league meant a lot to me,” said Kagawa, who played for Japan at the Asian Cup. “Such an experience won’t be wasted on the younger players, and will surely be of significance.

“In my case, meeting a coach [Culpi] who could mould our skills as young players was of immense importance, and being able, through one’s own efforts, to change hardship to strength is important to help one mature.”

Kagawa’s qualities saw him move on to Dortmund in 2010 and then Manchester United, before returning to the Bundesliga this season. Cerezo have lost more young talent this time - with Takumi Minamino joining the Austrian club Salzburg and Kenyu Sugimoto being sold Kawasaki Frontale.

However, Jin-hyeon has decided to stay and there is the prospect of Kunimitsu Sekiguchi and Keiji Tamada joining.

Much is expected also of Takeru Okada, Daichi Akiyama and Daiki Kogure, while youth graduates such as Hayato Nukui, Masaki Okino and Masaki Sakamoto will be vying for first-team opportunities. And a chance to follow in Kagawa’s footsteps, so long as they learn along the way.