Day 5 of the camp consisted of only morning practice, and some players also participated in the afternoon practice.
Yuto NAGATOMO and Keigo HIGASHI arrived in Okinawa last night and have joined the team for today's practice.
Today, we split into positions and the attacking team worked on finishing, while the defensive team focused on various aspects of the game.
During the finishing practice, we repeated the process of receiving a pass in front of the goal and taking a shot, while the opposing goalkeeper was conscious of preparing for the shot.
In the defense menu, the coaching staff acted as the opposing team and the players played with the intention of building up by connecting the ball from the defensive line while confirming their positioning.
Finally, we ended the fifth day with a practice focused on actual games in preparation for tomorrow's first external match of the season.
After lunch, player Nagatomo, who announced contract renewal yesterday, responded to media interviews.
Many media outlets have come to Okinawa. Nagatomo has spoken passionately about Tokyo. Here are some excerpts, please take a look.
Q, Yesterday, the contract renewal was announced and in the comments, it said, "I carefully thought about how I will live my life from now on." How did you think about it within yourself until the contract renewal? Please tell us what thoughts led to the contract renewal.
After the World Cup ended, I wanted to take a break both mentally and physically, so I took a break from thinking about soccer until the new year. However, during that month, I thought about what path I would take in the future by facing myself, and I felt a great passion for soccer, and as that feeling solidified, I began to feel a strong desire to win titles and raise the trophy in Tokyo. I talked to Tokyo after the new year. Tokyo also needed me, so I think this contract was able to be made.
Q, Please tell us your thoughts after finishing today's first practice, and also what kind of conversation did Chairman Nonomura have when he was here?
A sense of relief has sprouted from being able to return to my home. Seeing my teammates and coach, Albert Puig Ortoneda, and the staff's smiles, I have once again felt the desire to contribute even more to this team. I also discussed with Chairman Nonomura about how we can continue to elevate the J-League in the future.
Q, I think the performance in the World Cup is still fresh in our memories, but how do you feel about the camp in Okinawa for the new season, including the training environment?
A, Okinawa is a place I love so much that I come here every year even during the off season. I can relax and the time flows slowly, making it a wonderful environment. Being able to start again in such a place is a very happy thing for me, and I want to receive great energy here and give it back to the team.
Q, Shuhei TOKUMOTO, who is from Okinawa, joined us this season. He plays the same position as you, but what is your impression of TOKUMOTO?
A, I haven't seen you play yet, so I don't know much about you because I haven't practiced with you yet, but I've heard that you are a high-quality left-handed player, so I'm really looking forward to playing with you. And I welcome the competition for positions. It's a great honor to be able to compete with great players as a professional, and I think we can have a high level of competition. There is no word to give in to this professional world, but I want to have a high-level competition where we can both grow and contribute to the team in the end.
Q, please tell us your enthusiasm for this season.
A, Last season, under the guidance of coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, a wonderful base for the team was built, so this season we want to fight for the title based on that base. We have great players, so we believe that we can achieve that dream and goal.
Q, Please tell us about the team's goal and Nagatomo's personal goal.
A, the team's goal is to win the J-League title as I mentioned earlier. And for me personally, it's about showing my abilities on the pitch as a player and contributing to the team's strength. Also, I have gained a lot of experience... both overseas and with the Japan national team at the World Cup, so my goal is to pass on that experience to the young players and my juniors, and that is a big goal for me.
Q, 4 years later, in 2026, there will be a World Cup. What are your current thoughts and feelings about the activities of the Japan national team and their journey to the World Cup?
A, I will say it again, but the more I experience the World Cup, the more I become captivated by it, and I always have the desire to fight as a player in this place. And as long as I am still active, I want to aim for the Japan national team, so first of all, I think it will lead to the path of the Japan national team to be able to demonstrate my abilities firmly under the great coach, staff, and teammates in Tokyo.
Q, After the Qatar World Cup, what is the essence of football that is needed? Is it toughness that can match that level of intensity, or mental strength? How would you put it into words? How much of it exists in Tokyo currently, and how much is lacking?
To get closer to the top of the world, first of all, we need to improve our physicality in terms of duels. Of course, we still have to improve in that aspect, and also in terms of mental strength. As you can see from the World Cup final, all players were fighting for the ball with a fierce determination, even the genius Messi showed great defense and duels. That is the standard of the top of the world, and I believe that not only Tokyo, but also the J-League needs to aim for that. As someone who has been playing in Europe for over 11 years and has played hundreds of games representing my country in the World Cup, I feel that Japanese players still lack that physicality. It's not just about strength, but also about the soul and determination. To raise this standard, I want to fight this season and show what I am capable of, rather than just talking about it.
Q, What was the main factor that kept you active in your career, even though it was a World Cup that you put your life on the line for and could have burned out?
A, I have put everything into this World Cup over the past four years, so honestly I haven't thought about the future after the World Cup at all. But in the past month, as I faced myself, the first big inspiration I received was watching the final match between Argentina and France, and I was shocked and received a tremendous amount of energy. I realized the greatness of soccer and how it can move people. And I am grateful to be able to stand on that stage. And if I don't give up, I may be able to return to this stage. I feel a strong passion bubbling up inside me, and I realize that it is up to me to seize this future. And if I continue to play soccer, I want to meet a truly amazing coach like Albert and grow, and have the best teammates, and win a title in this beloved city of Tokyo. And I also want to create the condition to continue playing for the national team, and have the desire to play.
Q, During this month of taking it easy, I think you have spent a lot of time with your family. Can you tell us about your family's reaction when you heard that you will continue playing as an active player?
A, I don't think the children understand it, but my wife seemed to want me to continue playing, and she was very happy. She was still able to see me play at the Qatar World Cup, so she must have wanted me to continue. So she was very happy.
Q, After the defeat in the World Cup, you mentioned the need to boost the J-League. I believe this is something you have been saying since your first appearance in the World Cup. However, please tell us again about your desire to boost the J-League and how much you want to develop Japanese soccer through this.
I believe that the development of the Japan national team is impossible without the development of the J-League. This is because I myself grew up in the J-League, went abroad, and then came back. And now, the players who are playing overseas are also growing and developing in the J-League and are currently active. I think that the J-League is the base of Japanese soccer. If this base level does not improve, the development of the Japan national team is impossible. Therefore, I think that it will be a great repayment to contribute to the development of the J-League by utilizing the experience I have gained so far. I have been raised in both the Japan national team and the J-League, so I think I can make a big repayment. If I don't do that, I don't think the development of the Japan national team will be possible in the future.
Q, I mentioned earlier that I want to hold up the trophy, but please tell me about your thoughts on winning the championship.
A, I have strong feelings that I can't express with my vocabulary. Tokyo has won the cup tournament, but we haven't won the J-League. I think we are the team that needs to be the most exciting in the capital Tokyo. It's very sad and painful for me that this team still hasn't lifted the trophy, so I want to do my best to lift the trophy this season, carrying the pride of Tokyo and the blue and red. I think everything is in place. I believe we have the team, coach, and staff to achieve it.
Q, How intense is the current glare of Nagatomo, who is always shining?
A, are you shining? I changed my hair color back to black, but the intensity hasn't changed. I think it's even higher. My passion is burning. I changed my hair color back because the World Cup is a festival, and the festival is over, so when it's over, I'll start over and focus on my current job. I changed it back to black as a symbol of dedicating everything. So, compared to red, it may look plain, but my heart is burning with passion.
Q, what do you want to tackle first as your challenge?
A, there are too many. I have never been satisfied with myself, but in this World Cup, I can see a lot of my own challenges, including physical, skills, and tactical aspects. I think I have reached the top level in terms of mental, but when it comes to physical and skills, I still have to improve to meet the world standard. It may seem that Nagatomo will not improve anymore due to his age, but I will not give up because I believe that my dream will end the moment I give up. I have achieved everything so far because I have an image of what I can do, so I believe I can do it.
Q, Regarding mental strength, did you gain more confidence from this World Cup or did you always have the belief that you wouldn't lose?
A, this is about reaffirming my strength in this World Cup. I have experienced it four times so far, but I wasn't as strong as I am now. Looking back at these four times, I can confidently say that I have grown the most mentally and have become more confident.
Q, What do you mean by being captivated by the World Cup earlier?
When you look at my eyes when I shout "Bravo", you can understand that it's not easy for a person to get so excited. The reason why I can get so excited is because I am able to play in this precious World Cup once every four years, and I feel the joy and pride of being able to wear the Japanese flag on my back, as well as the pressure and pressure of it. As a professional soccer player, I have always felt that this is a great honor. That's why the World Cup, where you can feel everything as a soccer player, only happens once every four years. And the more you experience it, the more you become captivated by the World Cup, that's what it means.
Q, 4 years later, 3 and a half years later, there will be another World Cup, but is it within Nagatomo's vision for 3 and a half years or is it through the accumulation of each year?
A, both. Of course, I think that you can't reach that place without being able to imagine everything. However, I can imagine myself in 3 and a half years. But, that's not enough, so every year, every day, from today's practice, how much can I improve myself, how much can I get closer to my ideal self in 3 and a half years, I think it's really a daily battle. So, I hope I can overcome myself and show an interesting Nagatomo again.
Q, will we be able to hear the same kind of shouting as Bravo again?
A, I don't even understand it myself. Those were words that came out instinctively, so I can't make any guarantees here because they came from my soul, but I think it will be interesting again. Everyone, please look forward to what an excited Nagatomo will do.
Q, There was a bravo and welcoming reaction from all over Japan yesterday after the announcement, except for fans and supporters. How do you feel about receiving such a reaction?
First of all, I feel happy and my passion increases as I am praised with "bravo". Even though the coach told me to "take it easy and build my body" and "calmly build it", I want to play a game right now. That's how much my excitement has grown, and although "bravo" may be a word I said myself, I have received a lot of it and I think it gives me courage and passion.
Finally, here's a photo of the off-pitch scene.
The campsite is located near the sea, so you can enjoy the view of the blue sky and ocean. The players also take time to go to the beach and refresh themselves.
The perfect temperature for swimming in the sea. It's around the time when fatigue starts to build up, but these two also gave me a good smile.
Tomorrow's practice game will be against the local Meio University.
The match will start at 10:15 and will consist of two 30-minute halves and one 20-minute half.
We would appreciate it if those who come to the venue could confirm the precautions.
https://www.fctokyo.co.jp/news/14344
