[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q, we are always told that our growth is important. Can you tell us your impression of Nagoya Grampus?
Our mission this season is to gradually establish a new playing style and focus on achieving more victories and points as we continue to grow. Of course, as professionals, we are constantly striving for growth while also utilizing the strengths of our players to secure points. Our goal this season is to promote the growth of the team while effectively utilizing the current players' strengths. With the support of MIKUNI.S, we hope to strengthen our team with even better players for the next phase in the upcoming season. As for the Levain Cup, we want to give opportunities to young players. In order to confirm their potential, we must see them play in official matches. We also want to give playing time to players who may not have had many opportunities in other matches. This is the general direction for this season.
We must understand the characteristics of our opponents and come up with a game plan based on this season. For example, in the previous match against Sapporo, I interpreted it as a good overall game. Sapporo is a very difficult opponent to play against. It is difficult to play against a team that marks tightly. And although we were only slightly ahead in possession, we were able to do so. There were also a few close calls, but Kubo (Slowik) made some fine saves. We also had some decisive chances towards the end of the game, but we were unable to score due to a few centimeters difference. Tomorrow we will face Nagoya, who I believe is a dangerous team. However, our players have been consistently playing with a strong determination this season. Tomorrow, we want to continue to promote our team's growth while also utilizing our players' strengths. We will aim for another victory tomorrow while considering the characteristics of our opponents.
Q, How satisfied are you with being able to fight on equal terms or better against a strong opponent in the Sapporo match?
A, There are times when the game plan works well and times when it doesn't work well in each game. Naturally, many people interpret whether the game plan worked well or not by tying it to the game result. For example, if Sapporo's decisive chance was not stopped by Kubo and resulted in a goal, some people may perceive that the game plan was wrong and we lost. However, in the field, there are many cases where the game plan was accurate, but the game result did not go as expected. For example, Hiroshima was also a team that came with intense press from the front line, just like Sapporo. We were able to win against Hiroshima, but it cannot be said that the game plan worked well, and we were not able to play as we expected.
As for tomorrow's Nagoya match, they have a different playing style. They may have some similarities in terms of player positioning with Sapporo, but there is a clear difference in playing style between the two teams. Although their playing styles are different, Nagoya has a team of high-quality players. In that sense, I think it will be very difficult to take 3 points from them. However, the players have been training well to achieve good results. In that sense, I can calmly and confidently face tomorrow's match.
Q: At the beginning of the season, you said the team's completion level was around 20%. I believe you set the goal of reaching 100% to win the ACL (AFC Champions League). How would you rate the team's completion level at this point?
A, 25%. If we can reach 50% to 60% completion by the end of this season, I think it will be a success. However, the completion of the team and the number of victories are different stories. I am 100% satisfied with the team's attitude towards winning and the results of the games they have played. The completion of the team and the attitude of the players, as well as the satisfaction with the points, are completely different evaluation criteria. The players are committed to winning and playing the game. Their attitude towards fighting, as well as their efforts when they have the ball and when they don't, are also satisfying. In that aspect, I am more than 100% satisfied.
Q, Is there no correlation between results and growth?
A, of course, there is no proportion. However, winning is a presence that promotes growth. This is because if you win the game, the players will have more trust in the team. I think the fans and supporters will be more satisfied. And the media will also criticize me less. Therefore, it is definitely better to win the game.
Q, What is the most important thing you focus on to promote growth?
A, There are almost no secrets to promoting growth. It's similar to both team growth and cooking. First, time is needed. Adjusting firepower is also necessary. The distribution of salt is also important. Even if the cooking method is the same, there will be a big difference in the completion of the dish between fresh fish and fish that has been frozen for many years. That's the image.
Q, What is important to break through Nagoya's solid defense in the last two games?
A, I think the key point will be to follow the space they create in which zone. However, the opponent will often defend with 8 field players by putting numbers, so it is difficult to break through. Also, they have high-quality players. Their dangerous points are not only in defense but also in attack, so I think it will be a difficult game. Depending on the development, I think Nagoya may have a higher ball possession rate, but we want to focus on winning and play tomorrow. We want to continue fighting for 90 minutes until the end of the game as we have done so far.
Q, Is there anything that coach Hasegawa is aware of, even though he was in charge until last season?
A, Former FC Tokyo coach Masaru HASEGAWA's tenure is not considered important. However, I believe he is a great coach. In that sense, it is important that he is leading the team. He definitely has a deeper understanding of Japanese football than I do. Additionally, he has won multiple titles as a coach. In that sense, I am expecting tomorrow's match to be a difficult one.
[Player Interview]
Yuto NAGATOMO player
Q, how do you feel about your progress while working on the new style?
A, I feel that I am understanding and absorbing the coach's new tactics well, and I am also growing on the pitch. There are still many challenges, so I am working every day to absorb everything.
Q, what do you think about the movements and inner wraps that you have been working on, which are different from your usual style?
A, Recently, I've been addicted to playing inside (laughs). I've been having so much fun, and I think, "I've enjoyed it this much." The game is really enjoyable. I used to think that it was the role of a side back to run up the side lane, but modern soccer is changing, and what the coach is looking for is also changing, so I have to understand the coach's tactics well and be able to play inside now. I've played with various coaches overseas, so I don't think it will take me much time to adapt, and I think I've been able to embody it on the pitch.
Q, it is valuable to be able to experience new things at this age, isn't it?
A, Is there any age-related thing? Rather, as you get older, you become more flexible and you also have a desire to learn from younger players. Isn't it the opposite pattern? It's my feeling that getting older makes you more flexible.
Q, How does the team's situation look from an objective perspective as you work on a new style?
A, I am challenging myself to new things, and it's not that easy, but I feel like I am growing. Everyone is enjoying playing, and I am too. I think having fun is the most important thing, and it's a factor that leads to growth and affects the speed of growth. I still feel like I can continue to grow.
Q, is it more tiring for the mind than the body?
A, no, I'm not that tired. It's not that I'm not tired at all, but I can play soccer in a good position, so physical fatigue doesn't come easily in the end of the second half. Because my physical condition is good, my mental fatigue is also reduced. It's because I can play good soccer and have a good position. My own condition is also good, but there are some aspects of soccer that make it difficult for physical fatigue to come.
Q, It's fun to play in the center, but it's because I'm in a good position that I can receive the ball in a good way.
A, as it is a sport played with 11 people, I am always conscious of how I can connect with my position and my teammates. Looking back, I realize that I used to play wide and have a far distance from the center, or sometimes I would take a position that would make it difficult for my teammates. But now, I am able to play with a good distance in the center, and I also understand the importance of opening up and creating space for my teammates depending on the situation. I feel like I have grown as a player by being able to see the bigger picture of the game. I think that's what makes it enjoyable.
Q, Tomorrow's match is against Nagoya, and Kenta HASEGAWA, who I played with last season, is in charge. Do you have any thoughts about that?
A, There is also the fact that if Kenta-san did not desire me, I would not have been able to return to Tokyo, so I feel grateful to Kenta-san for being able to return to this wonderful club. On the other hand, there are also complex feelings of not being able to contribute to Kenta-san's team. Now, I will fight as an enemy, but I am determined to show what I have learned from Kenta-san in a short time and my own growth.
Q, I want to learn from young players, but Matsuki has been playing since the opening. Is there any part that you are inspired by him?
A, First of all, I think that having the right mentality is the most important thing to succeed as a professional, and he has that fearless aspect. No matter what stage he plays on in the future, that mentality will help him grow and lead him to even greater heights. It's reassuring to have that. I'm about twice his age, but his confident behavior doesn't make me feel that way. I'm desperately trying to learn from him.
Q, After the set play against Sapporo, there was a scene where you strongly stopped the opponent around the half line. Is this the best condition you've been in since returning last season?
A, both mentally and physically, I am in a good state and still improving. I think there are various factors, but since returning to Japan, I have been active in the national team and also had a busy schedule. I have been playing overseas for 11 seasons, so I think finally adapting to the Japanese environment is also a reason. I have also adapted to the J-League.
Q, you have been used a lot as a right back, have you gotten used to it?
A, right, it's fun, isn't it? I've been playing on the left all this time, and sometimes I've played on the right, but I used to think, "The right side isn't as interesting," and to be honest, I had a sense of weakness. But now, I'm having so much fun on the right side, I'm like, "Why haven't I been doing this all along?" (laughs) I think I can play at a high level, not just because of my condition, but because I can demand high-quality play.
Q, with this style, even when the ball is taken away, I feel like I can do a good job of taking it back and switching positions because my standing position is good.
A, because we often take the inside, it's really difficult to go up unless it's a really good timing, and in that sense, the quality of decision making for countermeasures and where to go and where not to go has also improved, and I think that's because our positioning is good and we can play with ease. When we tighten up on the inside during defense, the opponent can't really counter, so I don't feel like I'm going to be beaten either.
<Shuto ABE>
Q, In the league match, we had two consecutive scoreless draws in the 8th round against Urawa and the 9th round against Sapporo. How do you feel about these results?
A, not scoring in both games is something to reflect on. There were moments where our build-up from the back, which we have been working on this season, worked well, but overall, there are still many areas that need improvement. However, as a team, we have a unified image of the type of soccer we want to play. I believe it is important to continue challenging without fear of failure and to use it as a way to grow.
Q, On the defensive side, you must feel a sense of accomplishment in keeping two games without conceding a goal.
Both Urawa and Sapporo have completely different playing styles, so I see it as a positive that both teams were able to keep a clean sheet. Under the guidance of coach Albert Puig Ortoneda, we have been working on our organized defense, and I believe we were able to show some of the results on the pitch.
Q, Coach Albert Puig always emphasizes the word "growth". Do you feel the growth of the team?
A, I feel that the completeness of the team is increasing as we play more games. However, even if the content is good, we will feel frustrated if we do not win, and I do not think that the fans and supporters will be able to enjoy it. We want to focus on the results and continue to grow while winning games.
Q, this round we will face Nagoya led by coach Kenta HASEGAWA. How do you feel about it?
I am grateful to have received guidance from Coach Hasegawa for three years since I became a professional. With the intention of repaying that favor, I want to show my growth and win.
Q, please share your enthusiasm for the game with the fans and supporters.
A, your passionate support is our motivation. We will do our best to return the energy we receive through our results and play, and aim to win 3 points. Thank you for your support this match as well!
Matchday program is available here!
