<Albert PUIG ORTONEDA>
Q: How was today's practice match?
A, I am very satisfied not only with the first half but also with the second half. This is because there were many periods when the entire team clearly understood what I expected and played accordingly.
In the first match against Ryukyu, they defended by dropping back their block, so there were many situations where we pushed forward, lost the ball, and then regained it to launch a short counterattack. I think the team did well. I believe it was good that we were able to score from a quick short counterattack in a tight space.
In the second match against Omiya, the opponent was trying to win the ball back from the front, which led to many attacks in a situation where there was space behind the defensive line. Omiya intended to apply high pressure, but we were able to successfully break through that high press on several occasions. The goal that was scored in the second half was precisely a goal that exploited the space behind the opponent. It would have been better if we could have made more plays and goals like that, but the number was not high, which is a challenge for us.
Through the first and second halves, I believe the players felt that by controlling the ball, we could control the game. Today, I think we had a good match that proved we were superior, as effectively controlling the ball led to controlling the game.
However, there are still many areas for improvement, so I look forward to future growth. We are currently entering the third week of the preseason, and the important thing is that the entire team is beginning to understand and express on the pitch the playing style I expect. I respect various playing styles, including last year's Tokyo playing style. Changing from a playing style different from the one I expect is very difficult for the players, but I am glad they are adapting well to it.
Q: It seemed that the coordination in both offense and defense was good today.
A, the offense and defense were well coordinated, and the transition between offense and defense was quick, so overall it is good news that the players' understanding has improved, including these aspects.
The players have begun to understand the important concepts, but it still takes more time to refine the details and improve the overall quality.
Q: It feels like it is very difficult to defend by pressing from the front without delay after losing possession.
A, I do not think it is necessarily difficult to defend proactively. What interests me is that many Japanese teams first lower their block to defend.
Most of the top-level European clubs maintain a high block from the middle zone and defend aggressively by pressing forward as much as possible. I believe this is standard in modern football.
Q: Was it because we were able to maintain a high position in today's match that it led to good attacks from there?
When the defensive block is kept high and solid, we can regain possession and launch good attacks. Rather than long-distance counters, I think we were able to play with quick transitions between defense and offense heading towards the goal. However, for me, the ideal defense is to control the game by maintaining possession of the ball. Even if we win, it’s not ideal to allow many shots on goal; when we control both the ball and the game like today, the opponent’s shooting opportunities become almost zero. I do not believe that dropping the block and focusing solely on defense leads to better defending. First and foremost, maintaining possession is the best way to defend.
Q: After taking the ball, if the attack continues towards the goal immediately, it can be physically demanding, so it's necessary to have time to rest while controlling the game.
A, the quick transition between offense and defense developed through the counterattack style of play until last year, along with the mindset to aim for the goal, will continue to be a strength this year, so I want to further refine and make the most of it.
However, as the distance of the counterattack increases, the success rate decreases, and if it becomes all about counterattacks, the opponent will dominate the ball, creating a vicious cycle where the time spent on defense increases.
I believe there is still plenty of time to improve on controlling the game.
<Adailton>
Q: The camp is nearing its end. How well has the new style of football been integrated so far?
A, I fully understand what the coach is saying. Recently, we have been able to try out what we want to do in practice and practice matches, so I want to continue working hard to refine it and be able to express it well by the opening game.
Q: It is evident that your condition is improving as you have been involved in goals during practice matches and scoring goals yourself.
A, I think not only myself but the entire team is not yet at 100 percent, but we want to improve our condition further and have everyone ready by the opening match.
Q: How are the detailed positioning instructions from the coach and the combinations with your teammates?
Ah, yes, it is similar to the style I played in Brazil, so it is easy to understand things like positioning. I want to continue training and work on the finer details, such as the spacing between players.
<Makoto OKAZAKI>
Q, do you feel that the new style is becoming established?
A, I don't think I was told anything too difficult from the beginning, and the build-up play is something we've been working on since FC Tokyo U-15. The style changed last year, and there were still parts that hadn't fully settled, so after a little over two weeks of camp, I finally feel like the way we think about moving the ball has started to sink in. After today's match, there were fewer moments where the team performed well, so we need to reflect on that. However, the fact that the players were able to communicate with each other during the camp is a positive thing, and I think we are heading in a good direction.
Q: Do you feel any differences in building up from the defense line compared to before?
A, this is my personal feeling, but if the opponent does not press, I think it's fine to hold onto the ball. There is no need to force a pass, and I believe you can keep the ball yourself, dribble forward, and pass when the opponent comes to press. On the other hand, basic things like making passes to increase tempo, avoiding giving the ball easily to the defensive midfielder, and playing around from the outside to reduce risk—if we can adapt to what the coach demands, that would be good.
Q: The season opening is finally approaching.
A, I think time is needed to improve our level of completion, but on the other hand, we have to win. While connecting passes, we want to firmly secure victories and value how much we can build up with winning as the premise. Trial and error will continue even in official matches, and I think mistakes will happen during games. There are also different aspects in defensive coordination compared to before, so I expect some misalignments in the early stages, but if we can play soccer that wins steadily even within that, I believe both the team and the players can grow.
Q: Are you enjoying playing this soccer?
I like playing by touching the ball, and soccer that builds up from the back is a style where my characteristics can easily come out, so I feel that I have to make an impression there. If I can almost completely align my own sense with what the coach demands before the opening, I believe the soccer will become even better.
