"The only thing bright spot about training is Shunsuke," Yokohama manager Kazushi Kimura told Monday's Nikkan Sports after the team's losing start to the J-League season.
"It's been rubbish since last year. He's the only good thing."
Nakamura was quickly reminded of the size of the task he faces after watching Yokohama's 1-0 defeat at FC Tokyo over the weekend.
Yokohama finished 10th in the J-League last season after failing to lure Nakamura from Celtic, where the midfielder won three Scottish Premier League titles.
Nakamura, who returned to his boyhood club last month following a frustrating spell at Spain's Espanyol, was the one barking orders in Sunday's training session.
"There is no need to rush things," said Nakamura, whose return boosted replica shirt sales to the extent the club shop ran out of the numbers "2" and "5" for his number 25 jersey.
"We need to relax and play our style of football. There is no need to panic."
Referring to Nakamura's planned debut in next weekend's home game against promoted Shonan Bellmare, Kimura joked: "We'll probably have to use him."
