This season, a goalkeeper from the academy has been promoted to the top team for the age-specific national team. He won the Best Goalkeeper Award at the 2023 AFC U17 Asian Cup. A young talent who shows exceptional strength in saving and high balls. Currently aiming for the world as a member of the U-19 Japan national team, Wataru GOTO. We asked him about his current feelings and his enthusiasm for challenging the professional stage.
——How did you feel when you heard about the promotion to the top league?
When I compared my abilities with the senior members of the top team, I was not absolutely sure that I could definitely make it, so I was surprised when I first received the offer to be promoted to the top team.
——Goto started his career in the academy at FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa. When did you start to become aware of the possibility of being promoted to the top team?
When I was in the first year of junior high school, I was not involved in matches at all, and even when I moved up to U-18 in the third year of junior high, I was not particularly conscious of it. I specifically started wanting to move up after I began participating in the top team's training at U-18.
——Are you a humble person?
I am not the type to be overly confident or aggressive like the so-called "Ora Ora" style. I have focused on pursuing the abilities I have and concentrating on what I can do, so I haven't really thought much about whether my level is high or low. I believe that the result I have now comes from consistently doing the practice to play in the next match and delivering results when called up to the national team.
In the 2023 AFC U17 Asian Cup, he contributed to the victory with many big saves and received the Best Goalkeeper award of the tournament with 2 goals conceded in 5 matches. Did it boost your confidence?
I was happy to receive the award and gained some confidence, but when I think specifically about the Asian Cup, I didn't play well enough to be fully satisfied, so there were moments when I wondered if I truly deserved it. Personally, I felt I played better in the FIFA U-17 World Cup and had a strong sense that I could really perform well.
——What are your strengths once again?
I am good at saving shots and handling high balls. I can win when a high ball comes.
——How do you want to strengthen your physical condition?
Since my body weight is still light, there is one aspect where I need to increase it more. I have to make both my upper and lower body a bit thicker to be able to compete, so I am thinking about how to do strength training. I need to start by increasing my body weight and thickness first, otherwise I can't proceed further, so that is my initial focus. I also want to improve agility, but that is the next priority. Yuji MATSUBARA, the physical coach who was in charge of the top team, has been in charge of the U-18 team since this year, so I think we will continue with the current approach.
—— The top team has many senior players, including Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who has been selected for the Japan national team and the U-23 Japan national team for the Paris Olympics, making it a position with a deep roster.
It was understood that the top team's player roster is deep, and I was thinking about how much I could contribute while participating in practice. Competition is tough no matter where you go, so I am prepared for it.
—— How do you imagine your days with the top team from now on?
I still think there are many areas where I lack skills and mental strength, but even so, I want to play in matches from my first year. I'm looking forward to it, or rather, I have a strong desire to start playing as soon as possible. I don't know if I'll be able to play in matches during my first year, but I want to grow day by day. Building trust is also necessary, and it might be difficult, but first, I aim to be in the starting lineup for the opening game.
—— Please tell us the differences you feel when accompanying the top team's practice compared to the academy.
First of all, the top players have very high basic skills including catching, passing, and saving, and the finer details such as positioning are also of high quality, making it difficult for any player to easily score a shot. In comparison, I tend to make simple technical mistakes and allow shots more frequently, and I feel there is a gap there.
——While there is a clear difference, do you feel that it is not so far apart that it cannot be closed?
Certainly, each difference may be small, but there are many slight differences and small deficiencies, and I feel that there is a gap in overall strength. I want to improve each ability by participating fully in top-level training, so I want to engage fully in the camp from the beginning.
——The point to overturn the gap with the seniors.
If I am not able to play in matches, I believe the only thing I can do is to keep showing what I can do in practice. There is no point in feeling down, and I think I won’t earn trust unless I have the mindset to challenge my seniors. So, including my attitude and behavior, I must approach everything with a strong spirit.
——Such reliability was likely required even in international tournaments representing the country.
Regarding the mental aspect at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the feeling of enjoyment outweighed everything, and I didn't feel nervous in a good way. The atmosphere at the venue and the excitement I felt when hearing the national anthem and thinking "Let's do this!" was incredible.
——Who are the players that attract attention throughout the entire soccer world, including the national team?
This is Araki from Gamba Osaka Youth. He is a goalkeeper one year younger than me and competes for a position in the U-19 Japan national team. He can reliably stop shots and also participate in build-up play. He can handle all breakaway situations (when an opposing player gets behind the defensive line), so I inevitably compare myself to him. I don't want to lose to someone younger, so he is a player I am quite conscious of.
——Which player do you pay attention to in Tokyo?
Masataka KOBAYASHI played together for two years in the U-18 team, and we have always been rivals competing for the same position. Since we were also selected together for the U-19 Japan national team, I don't want to lose to him.
——Finally, how would you like fans and supporters to address you?
Whether it's "Gotou" or "Wataru"... in the team, there are many called "Wata" or "Wataru." I'm happy to be called either way, but first, I hope you can remember my name. From my first year, when I get to play in matches, I want to make sure I can fully show my play, so I appreciate your support.
♢Wataru GOTO Profile
Date of Birth: May 8, 2006
Height/Weight: 192cm/83kg
Hometown: Chiba Prefecture
Career: FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa → FC Tokyo U-18
Representative history: U-16 Japan national team, U-17 Japan national team, U-18 Japan national team, U-19 Japan national team
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
