Maya Yoshida has embraced the tough competition around him for the centre back starting position at Southampton, insisting that he is determined to take his game to a “higher level”.
Yoshida’s start for Southampton was against Manchester United in a 3-2 home defeat; one in which he made a costly error. However, the 27-year old Japanese defender is still optimistic about his chances with The Saints.
He told The Daily Echo: “I need more improvements, so just keep go on and I need to improve a lot if I play as a full-back and a centre-back also I need to improve.”
When talking about the competition he faces, Yoshida added: “It is always positive, as I say, the good competition makes the players better. Virgil is a good player and, of course, Jose is always good as a captain. In high level competition I can improve.”
Despite a tricky start to the campaign for Maya Yoshida, he is keeping his head up and is keeping faith in himself to take back a position in Ronald Koeman’s plans.
“I will try to get my position as a centre-back but also I can play at full-backs when team need help, or depend on how we play,” he told the local newspaper.
“So that’s always try to finding myself as a new challenge, because I don’t want to make a limit. It is easy to limit yourself.”
Do you think Yoshida is good enough for Southampton?
![Referee Andy Madley speaks to both Southampton Manager Tonda Eckert [GER] and Middlesbrough Manager Kim Hellberg [SWE] during the Southampton v Middlesbrough EFL Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg match at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/sites/7/2026/09/esme56H7noXX-300x208.webp)
Comments.
Loading comments…