Q: Please tell us your impression of Kawasaki Frontale, whom you will be facing tomorrow.
A, Kawasaki Frontale is a team that has maintained the same playing style for many years and gives the impression of a high level of completion. On the other hand, Tokyo is a team that has changed its playing style 180 degrees since last season and is undergoing a transformation. What we need to do for tomorrow's match is to stick to our own playing style and fight with a focus on winning. Kawasaki's team completion is higher, but it is important for each player to firmly prove their quality on the pitch to close that gap. Since we are facing the first match at the stadium of the team that has won consecutive league titles, it will naturally be a difficult game, but we want to focus on victory and achieve a good result. Tokyo's players also have high quality, and having spent a wonderful preseason during the one month since starting, they have been able to create a new playing style, so I believe we can have a great battle tomorrow.
Q: Tomorrow is the Tamagawa Classico, but what does "Classico" mean to the coach?
A, there are various Clasicos around the world, and each Clasico brings out a strong desire to win. That is why I try to compete naturally. While understanding it as a special match, by treating it as just one game, I can compete calmly.
Q: You mentioned that while being particular about the competition, you want to show your own style. I think it’s quite difficult to balance both, but will you prioritize eliminating Kawasaki's strengths or sticking to your own style?
A, I always consider myself to be the most important. I believe that if we can stick to and express our own playing style, the chances of winning increase. However, a soccer match involves many factors. For example, how and at what time the first goal is scored, and which team scores it. Which team gets the lucky breaks, where the loose balls go. Various elements influence the flow of the game. That is the nature of soccer. Regarding tomorrow's match, I think there is a clear difference between a highly mature team and a team that has just started reforming. There is also a way of playing that focuses on neutralizing the opponent's strengths. But if you focus too much on neutralizing the opponent's strengths, there is a risk that your own strengths will be lost. We are currently in a growth phase along with a new playing style. In that sense, we place importance on how this team grows together with its playing style. Now, if you ask whether we can express the completed form of our playing style at this point, it is impossible because the level of completion has not reached 100. Especially during the match, various events occur, so it is necessary to make adjustments and make every effort to express our playing style as much as possible. I believe the team's playing style and level of completion will improve with each official match, so this is just the beginning.
Q: As of the previous day, is the starting lineup for tomorrow confirmed?
Of course, as managers, we predict the opposing team's members and devise strategies. Everyone does this, and I also pay attention to a few key players. However, more than focusing on the opposing team, I focus more on the condition of our own players and whether they can give their best. For example, every opponent knows how Manchester City plays, yet no opponent can completely neutralize Manchester City's strengths during the 90 minutes of the match. What I want to say is that it is indeed difficult to eliminate the strengths of a highly complete team. I believe that if we express our play at a high level, the chances of winning the match increase. In that sense, I focus on my own team.
Q: I think this will be your first season as a manager in the top league category. You mentioned that you are calm, but do you feel any excitement?
A, first of all, I am calm because I am 53 years old. Throughout my life, I have accumulated various experiences. In that sense, I am not nervous about tomorrow's match. However, I do feel excited. I started coaching when I was 16, and since then, I have approached every game with passion, and this time is no different. What I always think is that it is just a soccer match after all. In life, there are many things more important than a soccer game. For that reason, I want to face tomorrow's match calmly without seeing it as something overly significant.
