A long time ago, there was a hit song titled “Ue wo Muite Arukō” (I Look Up As I Walk). Sakamoto Kyu sang it, and the idea was that you walk with your head up so that your tears won’t fall.
Recently, for Liverpool fans, these have been rather tough days. But I tell myself I must not let myself look down.
If you try to take the present situation seriously, you can sink deeper and deeper into despair. There are also times when criticism is necessary. But taking all that into account, I choose to watch quietly, and wait for the moment that is ours.
In recent years, Liverpool has become a strong, winning team. In particular, manager Arne Slot achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Premier League in his first year. Because of that success, whenever the team loses three matches in a row, the noise around us inevitably ramps up. The debates and arguments among fans—everyone voicing their views—is part of football’s appeal.
However, in my case, going back to when I started this blog, I made a vow to myself: to always support Liverpool with a positive attitude, no matter what.
In the past few matches, perhaps from the start of the new season, I believe multiple overlapping factors are behind why Liverpool hasn’t been going so well:
- There are many new signings, and their combinations haven’t yet clicked.
- The forwards’ contribution to defensive work.
- A thin depth at centre-back, and uncertainty over the choice of full-backs.
- Several players have yet to find their form since the start of the season.
You could list countless problems, and I understand that working to improve them is the correct path. Still, I must not let me look down, and I remind myself of that often.
At times like this—precisely because of them—I lift my eyes upward. To those of you who visit this space: even if it’s a bit of brave front, I hope you can see me with my head held high. From the bottom of my heart, thank you always.