[Player Comments]
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q: It's the 9th day of camp, how is your condition throughout the match?
A, there are many new players, and although it was a start with a new team, the team's form has become visible at an early stage, and through practice matches, I feel the level of completion is high. Compared to this time last year, I also feel the growth.
Q: Where do you feel you are growing the most?
A, the tempo of ball circulation and the smoothness to advance the ball have become ingrained through the team's shared awareness, and I believe we are now able to work on the next level phase.
Q: I think you were actively participating in the attack during the match.
A, as a challenge from last season, there were assists from side backs joining the attack, so this year we are discussing with players in the same position to improve that. If the side backs participate more in the attack and can break down the sides, I think the team's goals will increase. Therefore, during the camp, we consciously aimed to be more offensive and pushed forward aggressively.
Q: It was a match where the opponent was defensive, but what could you do and what are the areas for improvement?
The J.League will kick off in a month, and I think the opponents will play more defensively. Although we struggled to break them down this time, I believe we were able to press them and play in advanced positions. If we can improve the quality of our final combinations during this camp, I think we will be able to break down defensive opponents and embody the style of football the coach demands.
Q: I think the competition for the side back position will be intense this season, but what did you focus on while playing?
A, Tokyo has some of the top-class fullbacks in J1. I believe that if you can secure a starting position in Tokyo, you can become part of the Japan national team. There are truly several exemplary players right in front of me, and especially Nagatomo, who is an amazing player with experience in the Qatar Club World Cup. I think it's incredible to be in an environment where I can play alongside him. However, that doesn't mean I intend to lose; I want to keep challenging myself, secure a regular spot this season, and become an indispensable member of the team.
Q: What goals do you have for this camp?
First of all, I want to secure a starting position in the team and play the kind of good football we want from the opening match. To achieve this, I want everyone to understand my style of play. Last season, we found many issues, so I want to thoroughly work on those challenges and make this preparation period one where both the team and I can make a strong start from the opening game.
<Yuta ARAI>
Q: What were you thinking about when you received the ball on the side?
A, in today's match, I was able to communicate well with the fullback players, asking and telling them where to position themselves while playing. Basically, I often played by opening up to the side, but throughout the match, I was able to have good involvement, so I want to continue this going forward. Personally, I focused on taking on opponents when I had the ball. I want to improve the quality of my play even more.
Q: Were you able to bring what you have built up in this camp to the match?
A, we have been practicing together since last season, so I believe we have come to understand the tactical aspects. Now, we just need to apply that in the matches.
Q: What were the areas where the team was not performing well during the match?
A, we practiced connecting the ball in detail and switching play to the opposite side, but I think we need to focus more on this in practice so that we can execute it better in matches.
Q: I think we were pushing the opponent quite a bit. It's just the final finish that needs work.
A, I want to score in every match and also provide assists. My personal challenge is that I lack the ability to finish goals, so I hope to develop the ability to focus on and finish each ball during practice.
Q: What do you want to do in preparation for the next match?
A, I hope to improve on the issues of making decisive plays and carrying them through to the finish in the next match, and contribute to the team with goals and assists.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q, please review today's game.
A, while having various conversations, there were times today when things didn't go well, but we made adjustments and were able to play the match in a good way. It was also good that we were able to communicate during that time.
Q: During the ongoing camp, are you able to communicate more actively?
A, having joined as a new player and now in my second year, the team needs to enhance its offensive power, and personally, I am aiming for more goals and assists, so I am currently engaging in a lot of communication.
Q: We are able to connect the ball from the back, but I think the final breakdown is necessary to rank higher this year.
There are various scoring scenes including matches, but as a current challenge, I think we need to work a lot throughout the matches on entering dangerous areas and creating numerical superiority on the sides. We want to improve these aspects through the camp.
Q: It's good that you can score against any opponent.
A, practice matches will continue from now on, but no matter the team, we need to be able to play our style of soccer like we did today. I think the schedule will be tight this season as well, so we want everyone to have a good camp in preparation for that.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q, I think it was a good goal, but please review it.
A, personally I think the course was too easy, but I was able to get the shot as I had imagined, so I think that part was good.
Q: While there are players in Tokyo who can hold the ball and dribble, I think there were few players who could break through behind the defense.
I hope that even a little of my characteristics will match Tokyo, and not only making runs behind the defense but also breaking through by dribbling is something I want to do myself. In addition to that, making runs behind the defense is also very important for this team. By understanding the players' characteristics and communicating well within that, I believe we can become even stronger, and various tactics and formations will emerge. That will make it harder for opponents to catch us, so I hope we can increase our variations.
Q: Does it sometimes not come out when you want the ball?
A, there are still times when it doesn't come together. We will work on coordinating that, and the most important thing is communication, so by communicating and accumulating practice, I believe we will start to sync up. Even if we get caught offside in a match, I think the most important thing is to keep challenging ourselves.
Q: The breakdown in the attacking third is an issue. Should we establish a set pattern, or is it better to play while maintaining some freedom?
A, I think both sides have their merits. Having a certain structure in place makes playing easier to some extent. However, if you become too focused on that, you end up only being able to do that, so it's important to maintain some flexibility and also work on combinations and drawing in opponents to break them down. There are many players who can do those things, and I think that's the kind of team we are, so using both approaches is good for winning the championship.
Q: There is a practice match in three days.
A, I think it is important for the team to improve more in terms of condition. Personally, I have scored in the last two matches and have been able to participate in the camp in good form. However, when facing teams belonging to the J.League, we must avoid making small mistakes, as it won't be that easy to score. From my perspective, I believe we have been able to coordinate well during about a week of activities.
