Q: The participation in the World Cup has been decided, but the final Asian qualifiers had a difficult start.
A, the thrilling situations and matches continued, and on the other hand, I found myself simply enjoying those moments.
Q: Is it because you have experience? Would it have been different if your younger self had experienced it?
If it were my younger self, I probably would have been overwhelmed. However, this is my 4th time in the Asian final qualifiers, so I believe the experience of going through tough battles is significant. Having that experience or not makes a completely different difference in how you perceive that situation.
Q: Was the timing of recovering from the first loss where your experience was utilized?
A, good times are fine even without experience or if left alone, but when the team is struggling or in a difficult situation, the experience of tough battles comes into play. I think every coach needs a few veterans because they help unite the players at such times and bring a positive atmosphere to the team through their experience.
Q: As for Nagatomo, he commented that after the conclusion of the Asian final qualifiers, the battles in the J-League will become important as he aims for his 4th appearance in the World Cup finals.
A, that's right. If you don't achieve results in Tokyo, you won't be able to connect to the stage of the World Cup. That's why, when the final round of the Asian qualifiers ended, I felt even more determined to return to Tokyo and perform well in the J.League.
Q: I think that feeling is already reflected in Yuto Nagatomo's play in Tokyo since his return. Although he couldn't participate in the team's camp due to activities with the Japan national team, it seems he is rapidly adjusting to the team's style while playing in matches. How do you feel about his progress?
A, I feel very confident. I couldn't join the team for the one-month camp, so I started from zero in understanding the tactics the coach demands, the play expected from the fullbacks, and coordination with the other players. However, I feel that my experience has been valuable. Having learned tactics from numerous coaches both in the Japan national team and European clubs, and having coordinated with many players, I believe my experience definitely shortened the time needed to fit into the tactics.
Q: While there may not have been exactly the same tactics in the teams you have been with so far, through your experiences, isn't there something you can draw from many different aspects that reflects the essence of this style of football?
A, having learned under many coaches and having a wide range of skills, and with frequent player rotations in both European teams and the Japan national team, the fact that every coach chose to use me gave me confidence, and that helped me develop adaptability.
Q: For example, in the recent match against Vissel Kobe, there was a moment where I felt Nagatomo's adaptability to tactics. In the scene of Diego OLIVEIRA's goal, it seemed that Nagatomo was positioned wide, but he moved into the central area, flicking a pass from midfield to connect to the goal. At the moment Adailton started to move into the wide area, it appeared that Nagatomo's movement was well integrated into the team's coordination.
A, about that situation, I am very conscious of whether I should receive the ball myself or watch the situation and let a teammate receive it while I get involved as the third mover. If it were my old self, even if the pass went from Shuto ABE to Keigo HIGASHI, I think I would have stayed in the position I was originally in. But now, in that moment, I realize that I am not the one who should receive the ball. The instant the ball went from Shuto to Keigo, I instructed Keigo to pass it back to Shuto. You can see it if you watch the video, but I passed to Shuto and moved into the vital zone that the opponent hates the most. ADA was positioned wide, and I thought there was one less player connecting with Diego, so the goal was born from creating that connection. Although the final flick was a bit off, I think the intention behind my coordination, teamwork, and connection really worked well.
The relevant scene is 5:33
Q: We have a series of matches against clubs participating in the ACL, and in the next match, we will face Urawa in three days. Do you have an image of Urawa's style of soccer?
A, I think they are playing really great football. Last season as well, when playing at home, the tactics were clearly implemented within the team, and I felt that Coach Rodriguez is an extremely talented person when we faced Urawa.
Q: It seems like a team that can change its style of play flexibly while having a tactical base.
A, not sticking only to our own style of soccer, but firmly preparing countermeasures against the opponent and then figuring out how to make the best use of ourselves. I felt that they are seriously working on that aspect during the match.
Q: When it comes to matches against such opponents, while we have our own style of football that we want to play, we are also required to have flexibility as a team.
A, Tokyo's aim is to target what the opponent dislikes, so if we can work together to neutralize the opponent's strengths, I believe it will surely lead to victory.
Q: In Tokyo, there are both Nagatomo and Hiroki SAKAI as the full-backs for the Japan national team, and that matchup is attracting attention. You wouldn't want to lose against Hiroki SAKAI, right?
A, of course! I have played together with Marcelo as teammates both in the Japan national team and at Marseille. We are fighting on our home ground, and there is pride in that, as well as a strong desire not to lose. Last season, he scored a goal against us, and that was frustrating. If we match up, I definitely want to go all out on the pitch.I want to give it my all.
Q: You usually get along very well, right?
A, we get along very well. It's a relationship involving our families. However, as professionals, if we are opponents on the pitch, we must show the determination to never want to lose.
Q: While I'm looking forward to the intense matchups, in terms of Tokyo's soccer style, I think a key point will be seeing how Nagatomo gets involved in the attack by taking a good position and drawing Sakai out.
A, there may of course be matchups, but as Tokyo's style, the best thing is to take positioning that doesn't involve directly fighting the opponent in front of you. That's why, especially when in possession of the ball, we want to create situations where we can win without fighting by taking positions that the opponent dislikes. It's about deciding the outcome through positioning, or rather, taking positions where you don't have to fight the opponent in front of you, and the moment you receive the ball, the contest is already decided. Plays that the opponent dislikes are exactly those kinds of moves, and I believe that is the style of play that leads most to Tokyo's victory. While looking forward to the matchups, I am also excited about these tactical aspects.
