Q: How do you perceive your personal progress during the preseason?
A, until now we played the style of football under former coach Kenta HASEGAWA, but from this season it has changed to the style of coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, and tactically it has changed drastically. The plays I need to perform have also changed significantly. There were various trial and error phases, but during the camp, I kept trying new things. In that process, not only successes but also errors occurred, but I corrected them myself and have been refining my play. Personally, I still need to improve much more, but I think I have been able to prepare very well.
Q: How do you feel about the team's preparation?
A, There were many practice matches during the camp, and through repeated trial and error, I feel that we have improved significantly with each game we played.
Q: It seems that the competition has intensified since returning to Kodaira. What are your thoughts on this?
A, this is what soccer is truly about, so it gets intense quickly. Although we are teammates, it is a highly competitive world, so I think it's natural for it to be intense.
Q: What impression do you have of Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's soccer?
A, of course, it means people keep running hard, but he always says, "Stand in the right position and first move the ball to make the opponent run." When that happens, naturally quick decisions and more one-touch plays increase. It's not just about technique, but the speed of thinking and executing is highly demanded, and I believe we need to work on that even more.
Q: What is required of a sideback player?
A, it feels like you open up when you need to. It depends on the time and situation, but sometimes you open up to receive the ball yourself, and other times by narrowing inside, you can effectively utilize the outside players. By taking a slightly lower position, you can create passing lanes for the center backs and goalkeeper. There isn't really a fixed pattern for this; you have to constantly make decisions based on the situation. This is a very difficult aspect, but now my mind is gradually becoming more organized, so I think reducing mistakes there and executing accurately will lead to better play.
Q: Finally, please tell us your thoughts on this season.
A, I am not thinking much about injuries anymore. At the point where I start talking about injuries, it becomes an excuse. Since I have a new knee, I want to forget about the injuries in a good way, and since every year is a year of competition, I want to focus on the quality right in front of me.
