Pride. Literally, pride, self-esteem.
Although every professional soccer player has this in their heart,
Each player's approach and mindset is very different.
This season's WE ARE GAMBA OSAKA is,
Deep in the hearts of the players,
Revealing each person's pride.

He said that the moment he wears the Japanese flag is the moment he feels even more proud of being a member of GAMBA OSAKA. Even when he was selected for the Japanese national team in March last year, or for the Paris Olympics in July this year, he was unable to take to the pitch, but seeing the name "GAMBA OSAKA" written among the names of the chosen players on the team list has transformed into a great responsibility and resolve.
"I don't think there's any need for sharp or strange pride, but I think the pride of fighting with awareness and responsibility as a member of the team so as not to bring shame to the Gamba name is something that motivates me and is very important."
Of course, when playing for Gamba, that pride is more directly stimulating my desire to win the games in front of me and to become a strong team.
"When I was a kid, I watched Gamba, and they showed the strength to lead the J.League and competed for the top spots almost every year. The vague image I had of them as an "ever-winning team" became clearer as I became a member of the team, experienced their history, felt the size of the club, and played with the support of so many fans and supporters. My desire to become a strong team has also grown stronger. However, this is not as easy as it can be achieved today or tomorrow. It is not just a few people on the team, but everyone involved with the club, including players and staff, who must continue to think about what they can do in their respective positions and act on it every day, and everyone must have a really strong will and work hard towards their goal to achieve it. I think that if we all patiently strive for these little by little buildups, the joy of a "title" awaits us."
He said that this year too, he has been fighting with a sense of steady progress.
"The second half of this season was a tough one, with nine games in the J1 League without a win, but there was a different atmosphere than last year. Many players spoke up, and they communicated well with each other during red-white games and the like. Even off the pitch, the day after a game, players would talk about the game while taking a bath together, and you would often hear people say things like, "I wonder if we could have done it this way back then." This is proof that everyone is aware that they can't be the same as last year, and that they are making changes. It was a relief that this finally translated into results in the match Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, but in order to aim for greater heights, we want to continue making these small gains in the remaining games and strive for wins."
In that match against Sapporo, Handa came on as a substitute, playing at left back instead of as a substitute, and sent the pass that led to the winning goal.
"I was confident that something was definitely going to happen, and I was able to do the work that led to a goal. I think I was able to express my feelings well in my play."
Furthermore, in the most recent match against Kawasaki Frontale, he got behind the opponent, broke through on the right side and assisted the opening goal.
In both cases, it was an act that showed the pride in his heart.


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Text by Takamura Misa

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