<Rikizo MATSUHASHI Coach>
Q: The start date has arrived. What thoughts did you put into your initial greeting?
A, since we received a big round of applause from the fans and supporters, I conveyed the message, "We will do our best to keep this going until the very end." For everyone who supports us, in today's meeting, we talked about "What is our true success?" I strongly feel that it is the sparkle in the eyes of the people around us who support us. It is natural that we want to succeed and that the club wants to improve, but I believe the true success lies beyond that. I think these people are very important, so I felt that we must fight firmly for their sake as well.
Q: Is there a theme for the camp starting tomorrow?
A, it is important to continue using my own method of consistently touching the ball a lot and building up the body properly, but I always incorporate the tactical elements we are aiming for. Rather than a specific theme, it is about steadily building those aspects and also considering some new things, so I want to gradually bring those out as well.
Q: Will the first half of the camp involve high-intensity training?
A: I think it will be somewhat higher. We aim to maintain it consistently and properly. Regarding intensity, we work with the physical coach with clear objectives. For example, simple metrics like running distance, number of sprints, acceleration, and deceleration always have targets within training and physical conditioning. I believe it is important to proceed in line with those targets. Meanwhile, we observe the players' condition and assess their actual fatigue levels, injuries, and overall situation as we move forward. We do not expect everything to go according to plan, so it is crucial to communicate with all relevant parties as we progress.
<Seiji KIMURA>
Q: It has been a season since your return from a loan transfer.
A, I was able to play in matches throughout the season at my new club, Sagan Tosu, and I believe I gained a lot of experience by participating in the Asian Cup and the Paris Olympics as a member of the U-23 Japan national team. I feel growth, including mentally. I want to show a different side of myself in Tokyo than before.
Q: Is this a long-awaited reunion with Teppei OKA?
A, it's been a while. We met privately at the end of last year, but as teammates, playing on the same pitch is the first time since we belonged to FC Tokyo U-18. I'm looking forward to playing together, but as players in the same position and rivals, I want to have a good competition. I want us to push each other to grow even more. I don't want to lose.
Q: Please tell us again about your goals and enthusiasm for this season.
This is my second time returning from a loan transfer, and I believe this is my last chance, so I will fight through this season. I want to achieve solid results in Tokyo and show my gratitude for those who have supported me through my performance.
<Takahiro KO>
Q, it was the first day of training for the new coach, Rikizo MATSUHASHI.
A, various players have returned, Marcelo RYAN has joined, and from today's practice, we were able to create a good atmosphere. From the meeting, we felt determined to work seriously. It felt like a "Riki-san style" meeting for the first time in a while, and the words really resonated with us, which I believe was conveyed to everyone. While envisioning Albirex Niigata's style of football, we talked about coming to Tokyo with the goal of winning, not just maintaining possession by moving the ball. Since he has been someone who has conveyed what to do to win since the Niigata days, I felt that aspect hasn't changed. I also renewed my determination to focus on winning firmly with this club.
Q, I believe that based on your experiences in Niigata, you are also expected to play a role in conveying that to those around you.
A, well, yes. But I try not to overthink it too much. I am who I am, and I also have my own competition. First, I want to firmly express myself. In that context, I believe communication and speaking up are very important for the team to win and move in a positive direction. We have been working on this since last season, and to strengthen the team's coordination and connection, I think we should increase both the quantity and quality of communication even more.
Q: How do you want to compete this season?
A, looking back on last season, there were quite a few difficult situations at the beginning, and I fondly remember going through various emotions myself. Having played in Tokyo for a year, I feel that I need to push myself even more. Last season had its good moments, but there were also frustrating experiences, so this season I want to take full responsibility and raise the standards to achieve something meaningful. Riki often says that the only way to grow is through training, and I believe the intensity and quality of training will be demanded even more from now on. It’s just about raising each player's level of awareness. The camp is supposed to be quite tough, so I hope to give it my all starting from tomorrow's camp.
