LEIPZIG, Germany - Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada heads to Japan's World Cup camp on a high after helping his club capture their first European trophy with a 1-0 victory over Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in Wednesday's UEFA Conference League final.
Kamada played every minute for Oliver Glasner's side in Leipzig, where Jean-Philippe Mateta struck the winner shortly after the break.
The Samurai Blue star was in the thick of the action as a playmaker and defensively, linking his teammates in attack and quickly tracking back whenever his side lost possession.
"We did what we were supposed to do," Kamada said. "I just prepared with my normal routine and played the game as usual."
The victory caps a strong second season with Palace for Kamada, who has adapted to the pace and physicality of the English Premier League following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Kamada helped the London side claim their first major trophy by winning last year's FA Cup final. Having also clinched Europa League silverware with Frankfurt under Glasner in 2022, he is the first Japanese men's player to have won two European continental titles.
The 29-year-old is now focused on Japan's World Cup campaign. Hajime Moriyasu's men will play Iceland in Tokyo on Sunday in their send-off match before the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
"I've finished my work with my team properly. Now I want to set my sights on the World Cup," he said
