Yoshida: “Clean sheet more important than the goal”

With his goal against Parma on Sunday – a finish on the turn that demonstrated a striker’s instinct – Maya Yoshida broke the deadlock but also became the first-ever Asian player to score a Serie A goal for Sampdoria.

“I’m very happy to have scored my first goal,” the Japanese centre-back said after the game.

“However, after 30 games I should have done better. Now I hope to score at least two more between now and the end of the season.”

“I’m a central defender, so for me the clean sheet is more important than the goal. We have to reach 40 points as soon as possible – let’s keep going in this manner: we now have a great contest coming up against Juventus.”