[Player Comments]
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q: It's the 9th day of camp, how is your condition throughout the match?
Although there were many new players joining and it was a fresh start for the team, I can see the team's shape coming together early on, and I feel that the level of completion is high through the practice matches. I can feel the growth compared to this time last year.
Q: Where do you feel you are growing the most?
A, I believe that the tempo of moving the ball and the smoothness of advancing the ball have permeated the team's collective awareness, allowing us to now tackle a higher phase.
Q: I think you were actively participating in the attack during the match.
A, as a challenge from last season, there were assists from the attacking participation of the full-backs, so this year we are discussing with players in the same position to improve that. If the full-backs can participate more in the attack and break down the sides, I believe the team's scoring will increase. Therefore, during the camp, we consciously aimed to be more offensive and pushed forward actively.
Q: It was a match where the opponent was defensive, but what could you do and what are the areas for improvement?
The J-League will kick off in a month, and I believe we will face opponents who will play defensively. This time, we struggled to break through, but I think we were able to push the opponent back and play in deeper positions. If we can improve the quality of our final combinations during this camp, I believe we will be able to break down teams that sit back, and we will be able to embody the style of football that the coach demands.
Q: I think the competition for the side back position will be intense this season, but what did you focus on while playing?
A, Tokyo has top-class full-backs among J1. I believe that if I can secure a starting position in Tokyo, I can become a member of the Japan national team. There are several role models right in front of me, especially Yuto Nagatomo, who is an amazing player with experience in the Qatar World Cup, and I think it's incredible to be in an environment where I can play alongside him. However, that doesn't mean I intend to lose; I want to keep challenging myself and aim to secure a regular spot this season and become an indispensable presence for the team.
Q: What goals do you have for this camp?
First of all, I want to secure a starting position within the team and play the good football we want from the opening match. To achieve this, I want everyone to understand my play. Last season, we identified many challenges, so I want to use this preparation period to address those challenges and ensure that both the team and I can make a strong start from the opening match.
<Yuta ARAI>
Q: What were you thinking about when you received the ball on the side?
In today's match, I was able to communicate well with the full-backs, asking and conveying where I should position myself while playing. The basic approach was to often play wide on the side, but throughout the match, I was able to maintain good interactions, and I want to continue this in the future. Personally, I focused on being proactive when I had the ball. I want to improve the quality of my play.
Q: Were you able to bring what you have built up in this camp to the match?
A, we have been practicing together since last season, so I think we have a good understanding of the tactics. We just need to bring that into the matches.
Q: What were the areas where the team was not performing well during the match?
We practiced connecting closely and expanding to the opposite side, but I think we need to focus on this in practice so that we can bring it out more in matches.
Q: I think we were pushing the opponent quite a bit. It's just the final finish that needs work.
A, I want to score in every match and also provide assists. My challenge is that I lack the ability to finish goals, so I hope to develop the focus to finish each ball during practice.
Q: What do you want to do in preparation for the next match?
A, I hope to improve on the challenge of finishing and taking it to the end in the next match, and to contribute to the team with goals and assists.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q, please review today's game.
There were times today when things didn't go well while having various conversations, but we made adjustments and were able to play the match in a good way, and it was good that we were able to communicate during that time.
Q: During the ongoing camp, are you able to communicate more actively?
As a new addition to the team in my second year, we need to enhance our attacking power as a team, and personally, I am seeking to achieve more goals and assists, so I am currently communicating a lot.
Q: We are able to connect the ball from the back, but I think the final breakdown is necessary to rank higher this year.
There are various scoring scenes, including matches, but I believe that we need to work on issues such as entering dangerous areas and creating numerical advantages on the sides throughout the match. Therefore, I want to improve on that through the camp.
Q: It's good that you can score against any opponent.
A, we will continue to have practice matches in the future, but we need to be able to play our style of football like we did today, regardless of the team. I believe the schedule will be tight this season, so we want to have a good camp together in preparation for that.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q, I think it was a good goal, but please review it.
Personally, I think the course was lenient, but I was able to shoot as I imagined, so I think that was a good part.
Q: While there are players in Tokyo who can hold the ball and dribble, I think there were few players who could break through behind the defense.
I hope that my characteristics match Tokyo even a little, and I want to not only break through with runs behind the defense but also create opportunities through dribbling. I believe that adding the ability to make runs behind the defense is very important for this team. By understanding the players' characteristics and communicating well within that, I think we can become even stronger and develop various tactics and formations. This will make it harder for the opponents to catch us, so I hope to increase our variations.
Q: Does it sometimes not come out when you want the ball?
A, there are still times when it doesn't come out. I think the most important thing is to adjust to that, and the most important thing is communication, so while communicating, if we build up during practice, I believe it will come together. Even if we get offside in a match, I think the most important thing is to keep challenging ourselves.
Q: The breakdown in the attacking third is an issue. Should we establish a set pattern, or is it better to play while maintaining some freedom?
I think both sides have their merits. Having a certain structure makes it easier to play. However, if you become too reliant on that, you can only do that one thing, so I believe it's important to maintain some flexibility and also work on combinations and breaking down the opponent by drawing them in. There are many players who can do those things, and I think it's a team that can do that, so using both approaches is good for winning.
Q: There is a practice match in three days.
I think it's important for the team to improve in terms of conditioning. Personally, I've been able to score in the last two matches, and I'm participating in the camp in good shape, so when facing teams in the J-League, we need to avoid making small mistakes; otherwise, it won't be easy to score. However, I feel that we've been able to coordinate well for about a week of activities.
