<Yasuki KIMOTO>
Q, please review the camp so far.
A, with young players and new recruits joining, the competition has become more intense. Compared to the same time last season, I think we are able to continue what we have been doing for a year and it's creating a very positive atmosphere.
Q, do you feel any sense of progress from last season?
A, In the past season, our path forward became clear. In order to improve our accuracy and achieve better results, we need to increase our attacking variations. Therefore, we are focusing on that aspect during our training camp.
Q, please tell us about your thoughts for this season, as I believe the competition for the center back position is fierce.
A, I don't think the number of appearances last season matters. I have been playing with the mindset of each year being a competition since I turned pro, so I want to make a strong appeal at this camp for another year. This season, there are many high-level players, so I want to prepare so that anyone can play and have a higher level of competition than the coach having to worry about who to use in a good way.
Q, do you feel the intensity of the position battle?
A, I also think that the players around me are playing really well, so I can't afford to lose.
Q, Please tell me your personal and team goals for this season.
My goal is to participate in all games without injury for one year. As a team, of course, we aim to win the league, but as the coach says, we want to win each game in front of us one by one.
Q, There was talk about increasing the variety of attacks, but is there anything necessary as a defender?
A, we want to not only create chances with one pass from our own side, but also supply passes that can relieve the pressure from the opponent without losing the ball. We need to be more conscious of supplying good balls to our midfield and forward players while circulating the ball firmly, more than we did last season.
Q, Are there any specific things that Kimoto is conscious of in terms of boosting the atmosphere during practice?
A, I am not consciously aware of it, but since I am on the older side, I think I need to raise my voice more to liven things up.
<Ryoma WATANABE>
Q, I see a lot of scenes of running with Morishige player after this year's practice, what are you talking about?
A, the content of the conversation is mainly about private matters and not much about soccer.
Q, Are you discussing tactics and other soccer-related topics with players who have been with the team since last season, outside of meetings? A, (Including practice matches) Since the members are not fixed, we have not had any tactical conversations yet.
Q, The players are playing the game without being fixed, but there are many scenes where all teams are seen entering dangerous areas. Are you still focusing on scoring? A, I think the way crosses are made and how to break through the defense will become increasingly important in terms of scoring.
Q, Do you communicate your techniques to other players as someone who has been playing in games since last season, such as how to switch with the opposing DF? A, I don't think I'm in a position to teach others, and this also applies to scoring goals. I believe everyone has their own way of doing things. However, I do talk to young players who have just graduated from high school or college about positioning and mindset, rather than how to score goals.
Q, What are you currently focusing on personally? A, I want to make more plays that directly lead to goals. I believe my strength is being able to use those around me, but in order to become a scary player, I want to expand my shooting range and always aim for the final pass. I want to be conscious of the parts that directly contribute to scoring.
Q, Tomorrow's match will be against FC Ryukyu, which is the first time this season in the J-League. Will you be conscious of that? A, Yes, I will. However, minimizing mistakes is my biggest strength, so if I lose that, it becomes a challenge before I even start. So, I think it will be difficult to adjust, but I want to continue playing while keeping my strengths.
Q, There was a mention of being conscious of plays that lead to points, but is that also something that the coach is asking for? A, It's not that the coach is asking for it. Looking back at the individual results from last season, I felt that we couldn't aim for league victory or high goals without scoring more points. (Soccer is) a sport where you score, so even if you can pass the ball around, you can't win. So, as an individual, I made the decision that I want more points.
Q, Did you think that you needed plays that directly lead to points when looking back on the off-season? A, It was something I had been thinking about for a while. This season, I was able to play in my preferred position from the beginning, so I think it's the perfect timing. When I seriously thought about wanting to achieve results, I believe this season will be the most important year.
Q, Please tell us the team's goal and individual goal. A, As a team, we aim to win the league. Personally, I want to score 10 goals.
Q, What changes have there been in the 2022 and 2023 seasons as a team? A, Of course, the base of last season, but I think that the awareness of scoring goals and the play that leads directly to the goal has increased for all players. It is important to value the ball, not just connect it, but also to not miss the players who move to score and to prioritize the criteria for judging whether to pass the ball to the front line.
Q, Kimoto player also said that he has become able to rotate the ball well up to the penalty area, but I think that the breakdown after that will be important, but does Watanabe player have any personal keywords regarding creativity and attack? A, I think that it is important to synchronize the breath between individuals in order to score more goals than last season. It's obvious, but I think it's important not only for the person who passes the ball, but also for the person who receives the pass to watch the opponent and start moving, etc.
