[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q: It is often said that our growth is important. Please tell us your impression of Nagoya Grampus.
First of all, I want to convey to everyone that our mission this season is to gradually establish a new playing style. Naturally, we are in the professional world, so we are focusing on promoting growth while securing more victories and points during this developmental stage. Of course, we want to effectively utilize the characteristics of our players to connect them to points. The goal for this season is to promote the team's growth while making the most of the current players' strengths. As we move into next season, with the cooperation of Mixi, I hope we can strengthen our squad further and advance to the next phase. Regarding the Levain Cup, I want to give young players a chance. To assess their potential, we need to see them play in official matches. I also want to provide playing time to players who haven't had many opportunities in the Levain Cup. That is the general direction for this season.
Based on this season, we must capture the characteristics of our upcoming opponent's match and devise a game plan. For example, in the last match against Sapporo, I interpret it as a good game overall. Sapporo is a very difficult opponent. It is challenging to play against a team that comes at you with man-marking. We were able to slightly surpass them in possession rate. There were a few critical moments, but Kuba (SLOWIK) made fine saves to stop them. We also had a decisive chance towards the end of the match, but we couldn't score due to a few centimeters' difference. Tomorrow we will face Nagoya, and I believe they are a dangerous team. However, our players have consistently played with a strong commitment to winning this season. Regarding tomorrow, I want to promote our team's growth while considering the opponent's characteristics. At the same time, I aim to effectively bring out the players' strengths and strive to secure victory again tomorrow.
Q: How satisfied are you with being able to compete on equal terms or better against a strong opponent like Sapporo?
A. In each match, there are times when the game plan works well and times when it does not. Naturally, many people interpret whether the game plan was successful based on the match result. For example, if we had lost because Kuba could not stop Sapporo's decisive chance and it resulted in a goal, some might have perceived the game plan as incorrect. However, from the field's perspective, there are many instances where the game plan was on target, but the match result did not unfold as expected. For instance, Hiroshima was also a team that applied intense pressure from the front line, just like Sapporo. We managed to secure a victory against Hiroshima, but to say that the game plan worked well is certainly not the case, as we were unable to execute the plays we had anticipated.
Regarding tomorrow's match against Nagoya, they have a different playing style. While there may be similarities in player positioning compared to Sapporo, there is a clear difference in playing styles between the two teams. Although their playing style is different, Nagoya has a lineup of high-quality players. In that sense, I think it will be very difficult to take three points from them. However, the players have been accumulating good practice to achieve good results through good play. In that sense, I can calmly and confidently approach tomorrow's match.
Q: You mentioned that the team's completeness was around 20% at the start of the season. I believe you set 100% as the level for winning the AFC Champions League. What is the current level of the team's completeness?
A, it's 25%. I believe it would be a success if we can reach a completion level of 50% to 60% by the end of this season. However, the team's completion level and the number of victories are different matters. I am 100% satisfied with the players' commitment to competition and the results the team is achieving. The evaluation criteria for the team's completion level, the players' attitude, and satisfaction with points are completely different. The players are competing hard in the matches. Their fighting spirit, both when they have the ball and when they don't, is also part of this. In that regard, I am more than 100% satisfied.
Q: Are results and growth not proportional?
A, of course, it does not scale proportionally. However, victory is something that promotes growth. This is because when a team wins, the players' trust in the team increases. I believe fans and supporters will also be more satisfied. Additionally, the media will likely criticize me less. Therefore, winning matches is certainly better.
Q: What is the most important thing you prioritize to encourage growth?
A, there are almost no secrets to promoting growth. The growth of a team is similar to cooking. First, time is needed. Adjusting the heat is also necessary. The distribution of salt is important. Even if the cooking method is the same, there is a significant difference in the quality of the dish between freshly caught fish and fish that has been frozen for years. That's the kind of image.
Q: What is important to break Nagoya's solid defense in the last two matches?
A, I think the key point will be how they create space in their zone and how we exploit that space. However, the opponent will often use eight field players to create a block for defense, making it difficult to break through. They also have high-quality players. Their dangerous points are not only in defense but also in their attacking play, so I expect it to be a tough match. Depending on the development of the game, I think Nagoya may have a higher ball possession rate, but we want to focus on winning and play tomorrow. As always, we want to continue fighting for 90 minutes until the match is over.
Q: Is there anything that Coach HASEGAWA is consciously aware of, given that he was in charge until last season?
A, I do not consider it important that Coach Hasegawa was the former coach of FC Tokyo. However, I believe he is a great coach. In that sense, it is important that he leads the team. He undoubtedly has a deeper understanding of Japanese football than I do. Additionally, he is a coach who has won multiple titles so far. For that reason, I definitely expect tomorrow's match to be difficult.
[Player Interview]
<Yuto NAGATOMO>
Q: I believe you are working on a new style and growing within it. How do you feel about it?
AI first thoroughly understand and absorb the new tactics of the coach, and I feel that I am growing on the pitch. However, there are still many challenges, so I am working every day to absorb everything.
Q, I think the movement of narrowing in and the inner wrap is different from your previous style, but how has it been for you to work on it?
A, recently, I've been really into playing in the middle (laughs). I never thought I would enjoy it this much. The matches are truly fun. I used to think that the role of a full-back was to run up the side lanes, but modern football is changing, and what the coach demands is also changing. So, I need to thoroughly understand the coach's tactics, and nowadays, I have to be able to play in the middle as well. Having worked with various coaches abroad, I don't think it takes me long to adapt, and I believe I am actually embodying that on the pitch.
Q, it's valuable to be able to experience new things at this age, isn't it?
A, does age matter? Rather, as I get older, I find myself becoming more flexible and wanting to learn from younger players. Isn't it the opposite pattern? My feeling is that getting older makes one more flexible.
Q: How does the team's situation appear from an objective perspective while working on the new style?
A, I am challenging myself with new things, and it's not that easy, but I do feel a sense of growth. Everyone is enjoying playing, and I am too. I believe that enjoying the game is the most important thing and a factor that leads to growth, and it affects the pace of growth as well. I still feel that I can continue to grow.
Q: Is it more tiring for your head than your body?
A, well, I'm not that tired. It's not that I'm completely not tired, but since I'm able to play soccer with good positioning, physical fatigue doesn't hit me hard towards the end of the second half. My physical condition is good enough that mental fatigue is also reduced. I'm able to play good soccer and maintain good positioning. While my own condition is good, the style of soccer I'm working on tends to minimize physical fatigue.
Q: You mentioned that playing in the center is enjoyable, and it's because you are able to receive the ball in a good position, right?
A, since it is a sport played not just by oneself but by 11 people, I am always aware of how I can connect with my position. Until now, I have often played by opening up to the outside, which sometimes created a distance from the center, or conversely, I would take positions that made it difficult for my teammates due to being too close. Looking back now, I can feel that. I am able to play with a good sense of distance in the center, and of course, depending on the situation of my teammates and the opponents, it is also necessary for me to open up and take width. I feel I have grown in being able to play while viewing soccer from a broader perspective. I think that being able to enjoy it is part of that aspect.
Q: Tomorrow is the match against Nagoya, and Kenta HASEGAWA, who fought alongside us last season, is in charge. Do you have any thoughts about that?
A, the fact that I wouldn't have been able to return to Tokyo if Kenta hadn't wanted me means that I owe my return to this wonderful club to him. I feel grateful, but at the same time, I have mixed feelings about not being able to contribute to Kenta's team. Now I will fight as an opponent, but I am eager to show what I learned from Kenta in that short time and demonstrate my growth.
Q: You mentioned wanting to learn from younger players, but Matsuki has secured a position and has been playing since the opening match. Are there aspects in which you feel inspired by him?
A, first of all, I believe that mentality is the most important thing to succeed as a professional, and he possesses that fearless aspect. No matter what stage he plays at as he grows, that mentality will help him develop and lead him to even greater heights. Just having that is reassuring. I am about twice his age, but I think his confident demeanor makes it feel like age doesn't matter. I am desperately trying to absorb everything from him.
Q: There was a scene where you strongly stopped the opponent around the halfway line after a set piece against Sapporo. Would you say this is the best condition you've been in since returning last season?
A, I am in good physical and mental condition, and I am still improving. I think there are various factors, but since returning to Japan, I have been active with the national team, and there has been a busy schedule. Having played overseas for 11 seasons, I believe I am finally adapting to the Japanese environment. I have also adapted to the J.League.
Q: You have been used as a right back often, have you gotten used to it?
A, the right side is fun, isn't it? Until now, I have always played on the left, and while I occasionally played on the right, I honestly thought, 'the right isn't fun.' I had a sense of difficulty with it. But now, I'm really enjoying the right side, thinking, 'Why haven't I done this before?' (laughs). It's about my condition as well, but I believe I can strive for high-quality play.
Q, with this style, I feel that when the ball is taken away, the positioning is good, allowing for a smooth recovery and transition.
A, since I often take the inside, I can only advance at really good timing, and in that sense, the quality of judgment regarding countermeasures and when to press or not has improved. I believe this is largely due to good positioning and being able to play with composure. When I tighten up on the inside during defense, the opponent also struggles to counterattack, allowing me to face them in a good state, so I don't feel like I'm going to be beaten.
<Shuto ABE>
Q: In the league matches, there were two consecutive scoreless draws against Urawa in Sec. 8 and Sapporo in Sec. 9. How do you feel about this result?
It is a point of reflection that we have not scored in both matches. There were moments when the build-up play from the back that we are working on this season went well, but overall, I believe there are still many challenges ahead. However, we have unified our image of the football we aim to play as a team. I think it is important to continue to challenge ourselves without fear of failure and to connect that to our growth.
Q: In terms of defense, don't you feel a sense of achievement in keeping a clean sheet in both matches?
A, Urawa and Sapporo are completely different teams in terms of their playing style, so I view the fact that both teams kept a clean sheet positively. Under Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, we have been working on organized defense, and I believe we were able to express some of that success on the pitch.
Q: Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA always emphasizes the word "growth." Do you feel the team's growth?
As we play more matches, I feel that our team's level of completion is improving. However, even if the performance is good, it is frustrating if we do not win, and I believe our fans and supporters will not enjoy it either. I want to focus on results and grow while winning matches.
Q: This match is against Nagoya, led by Kenta HASEGAWA. What are your thoughts?
I am grateful for the three years of guidance from Coach Hasegawa since I became a professional. With the intention of giving back, I want to show my growth and achieve victory.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the match with the fans and supporters.
A, your passionate support is our motivation. We will do our best to return the strength we receive in the form of results and performance, and we will definitely strive to earn 3 points. Please continue to support us this match as well!
Matchday program is available here!
