From arriving to training: a look back at the first day in Osaka
The Paris Saint-Germain players, who left Paris for Osaka on Saturday for the start of the Japan Tour 2023, had their very first training session there.
It was a first day made for settling in, but also to quickly get into the Japanese swing of things! After a long journey with all the comforts of a Qatar Airways flight (a twelve-hour flight), the Paris Saint-Germain players arrived in Osaka just after midday local time.
Our Rouge et Bleu quickly got a feel for the local passion, with autographs and photos being taken and a warm welcome from their supporters at the airport and in front of their hotel. The Paris Saint-Germain Japan Fan Club was particularly active.
After settling into their base camp, it was time for a media session for some of our players! Marquinhos, Marco Ascensio and Lucas Hernandez, along with their coach Luis Enrique, took part in a conference to present their summer tour of Japan. It was an opportunity for our players to exchange a few words with the local press.
"We're delighted to be here in Japan. It's always a pleasure to come to a country that loves football, Paris Saint-Germain and has a culture of hospitality. I've already had the chance to come here several times and we have to make the most of this moment," the Parisian coach told the media.
"This tour is going to help us prepare to arrive in the best possible shape for the start of the new season. And what better place than Japan to do all that and be close to our Japanese fans! We know there are a lot of them, and we're happy to be here and training in Japan," said Lucas Hernandez.
At the end of the day, the Parisians were given a tour of the Green Sakay Stadium on the outskirts of Osaka, where they will be training during the week. Luis Enrique's staff wasted no time in doing so, as the squad took part in their very first session on Sunday evening. Neymar Jr took part in the entire session.
Finally, the players from the capital were able to return to their hotel. They then settled in for a good night's sleep to make up for the 7-hour time difference between Paris and Osaka, before embarking on a wonderful week in Japan.
See you on Monday at the same stadium, for a session open to the public and to be followed live on the official Paris Saint-Germain platforms!