Iwata knows all about last-day title tension
THE SPFL helicopter is on standby. Separated by just three points at the top of the table, Celtic and Rangers return to the league arena this afternoon following the welcome diversion of separate successful Scottish Cup semi-final missions.
Form dictates Celtic find themselves in the box seat given Rangers’ struggles at Ross County and Dundee prior to the split, and with the last remaining league derby taking place in front of 60,000 of their own supporters. Only the brave or foolish, however, would predict with any certainty that there won’t be further twists or turns to come over the remaining five fixtures, enough drama and dropped points to ensure the race for the championship goes all the way to the last day on May 18.
And at that point, the helicopter will be fuelled up and ready to take the trophy to whichever side eventually comes out on top.
Tomoki Iwata shrewdly steers clear of making any bold claims on when this title tussle will finally be settled but, if it does go all the way, the midfielder has greater experience than most on how to deal with it.
The Japanese international was on the books of Yokohama F. Marinos, then managed by former Rangers defender Kevin Muscat, when the outcome of the 2022 J1 League championship went right down to the wire.
Marinos held a two-point advantage over defending champions Kawasaki Frontale going into the final matchday knowing they had little margin for error. Frontale won their final match but the league leaders did likewise, a 3-1 victory over Vissel Kobe starting the celebrations in
Yokohama.
It remains a career highlight for Iwata, voted the league’s Player of the Season just months before he set sail for Celtic and a reunion with former
Marinos manager, Ange Postecoglou. That dramatic denouement also taught him some useful skills, including how to handle the pressure when it gets cranked up and up — as will surely also happen here in the weeks ahead.
‘That season I felt a different type of pressure to what I was used to because we were going for the title,’ recalls the 27-year-old. ‘As the games got fewer in the season — and the pressure built — we couldn’t play the way we wanted to. We felt that with maybe five games remaining. So we really started to feel how difficult it was going to be to win it.
‘On the last day, both ourselves and Frontale won the games and we got the title by two points. We were ahead going into the final day against Vissel Kobe and had to make sure we didn’t lose. It was a lot of pressure but I don’t fear pressure. We had confidence that we could win the league and we did it.
‘The celebrations in Yokohama were incredible and it was a great experience for me, personally. It was the first title of my career, so it was a fantastic moment to be there celebrating with my team-mates. And of course, everyone connected with the club was really happy that we had managed to become champions.’
The coda to this year’s championship gets underway in Paisley this lunchtime when St Mirren take on Rangers, with Dundee hosting Celtic immediately afterwards. It is a time for clear heads and cool hearts — and Iwata knows what to expect.
‘Experiencing that pressure with
Yokohama in
2022 is definitely helping me here at Celtic because it’s similar,’ he reflects. ‘We still have some games left here this season but
I don’t feel nervous or not confident enough going into it.
‘We have our own style of play at Celtic and as long as we prepare properly to play our own way, we’ll be ready to get the results we want in the title race. You never know what’s going to happen in the future, so I can’t comment on whether it will come down to the last day here.
‘But we’ll be ready for it. We’ll be prepared for every game now and, as long as we do that, we’ll be ready to win the title. We’re taking each game as it comes and we’ll see what happens.’
Unlike countrymen Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, Iwata is yet to fully make his mark in Scottish football. Behind Callum McGregor (below, with Iwata) in the pecking order for a defensive-midfielder berth, he has played just 19 times this season. But there are no regrets.
‘I haven’t played as much at Celtic as I expected so, until now, it has been below my expectations,’ he admits. ‘However, if you ask me if it’s been a failure or a success — I certainly wouldn’t say it’s been a failure. This is still a great experience for me to learn from. It’s part of my career and my journey as a footballer.
‘I only take the positives from it and I want to make more progress now. I’m only thinking forwards. Obviously, I don’t have any regrets about signing for Celtic. I’m so happy to play for this club and I’ve enjoyed every minute that I’ve been on the pitch. I’m looking forward to seeing what more I can achieve at Celtic.’
Trying to oust McGregor is a thankless task but Iwata doesn’t see it that way. ‘I don’t feel that it’s difficult to replace Callum,’ he adds. ‘I just look at him as my team-mate and he’s a guy I can learn from. He’s a fantastic player who can take my game to another level.
‘I respect him so much as a team-mate. He’s a top player for this club.’