Q: Please tell us your impression of Kawasaki Frontale, whom you will be facing tomorrow.
A. Kawasaki Frontale is a team that has maintained the same playing style for many years, giving the impression of high completeness. On the other hand, Tokyo has completely changed its playing style since last season and is undergoing transformation. What we need to do for tomorrow's match is to stick to our playing style and fight with a focus on winning. While the team's completeness is higher for Kawasaki, it is important for each player to prove their quality on the pitch to bridge that gap. Since we are facing our first match at the stadium of a team that has won consecutive championships in the league, it will naturally be a difficult match, but we want to focus on victory and achieve a good result. The players from Tokyo also have high quality, and after a month of preparation, we have had a wonderful preseason and have been able to create a new playing style, so I believe we can have a great battle tomorrow.
Q: Tomorrow is the Tamagawa Classico, but what does "Classico" mean to the coach?
A, there are various classics around the world, and each classic has a strong desire to win. That’s why I try to approach it in a natural way. By understanding it as a special match while also viewing it as just one game, I can fight calmly.
Q: You mentioned that while being particular about the competition, you want to show your own style. I think it’s quite difficult to balance both, but will you prioritize eliminating Kawasaki's strengths or sticking to your own style?
A, I always consider myself the most important. I believe that if we can consistently express our own playing style, the chances of winning increase. However, a soccer match involves many factors. For example, how and when the first goal is scored, and which team scores it. Which team benefits from small moments of luck, and where the loose balls go. Various elements influence the flow of the game. That is the nature of soccer. Regarding tomorrow's match, I think there is a clear difference between a highly mature team and a team that has just started reforming. There is a way to approach the game by neutralizing the opponent's strengths. But if we focus too much on negating their strengths, we risk losing our own advantages. We are currently in a growth phase along with a new playing style. In that sense, we place great importance on how this team will develop together with its playing style. Now, can we express the completed form of our playing style at this point? Since the level of completion has not reached 100, that is impossible. Especially during the match, various events occur, so we need to make adjustments and strive to express our playing style as much as possible. I believe the team's playing style and level of completion will improve with each official match, so this is just the beginning.
Q: As of the previous day, is the starting lineup for tomorrow confirmed?
Of course, as coaches, we anticipate the members of the opposing team and devise strategies. It's something everyone does, but I also pay attention to a few key players. However, more than focusing on the opposing team, I concentrate on how our players are doing and whether they can give their all. For example, every opponent knows how Manchester City plays, yet no opponent can neutralize Manchester City's strengths and compete for 90 minutes. What I want to say is that it is indeed difficult to nullify the strengths of a highly developed team. I believe that if we express our play at a high level, we have a greater chance of winning the match. In that sense, I focus on my own team.
Q: I think this will be your first season as a manager in the top league category. You mentioned that you are calm, but do you feel any excitement?
A, first of all, I am calm because I am 53 years old. Throughout my life, I have accumulated various experiences. In that sense, I am not nervous about tomorrow's match. However, I do feel excited. I started coaching when I was 16, and since then, I have approached every match with passion, and this time is no different. What I always keep in mind is that it is just a single soccer match. There are many things in life that are more important than a soccer match. In that sense, I want to approach tomorrow's match calmly without viewing it as something extremely significant.
