Q, you have arrived in Okinawa, how do you feel?
A, I'm really excited right now.
Q. Is it because you feel something different from before?
A, I truly have strong feelings about this year, and under the new coach, we have meetings and such, which makes me excited in many ways. I want to show my skills quickly and enjoy playing football; that’s how I feel.
Q: This is your first season starting under a coach other than former manager Masaru HASEGAWA. The preferred soccer style is also different; how do you feel about it so far?
Mr. Kenta Hasegawa has his own way, and Albert PUIG ORTONEDA also has wonderful ideas. When it was Mr. Hasegawa, I wanted to learn as much as possible from him and grow, and now that Albert PUIG ORTONEDA is the coach, there are some differences from before. However, those are also areas where I am lacking, so by challenging myself with new things on top of my current abilities and continuing to learn, I believe I can grow even more as a football player.
Q. There are still many things that are unclear, but how do you think Tokyo's football will be in the 2022 season?
There are interview articles with Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, the coach of Team A, and I truly believe what is written in those articles. From the meeting, I thought that while various tactics and detailed aspects will be worked out, ultimately, the coach repeatedly emphasizes the point of "winning." There may be areas where the style is refined, but in the end, it is all about connecting everything to victory, playing football calculated backward from winning, and within that, controlling the ball ourselves to secure the win. I think we can show an enjoyable, attacking style of football that is different in meaning from last year.
Q. Foreign coaches sometimes clearly demand opinions and assertions from players. Are you conscious of this?
Whether the coach is Japanese or foreign, it doesn't matter. I think it's essential to have a third-party perspective when playing football. I always try to think for myself and come up with answers, but if I don't understand something, I immediately ask. That hasn't changed. Since we're always trying new things, there will naturally be things we don't understand or can't do, or things that concern us. It's important to keep asking and maintain a learning attitude. Ultimately, it doesn't mean anything if you can't express it on the pitch, but I intend to be more proactive about it.
Q. How do you view the injury from last season?
A, it is best not to get injured, and although I did rehabilitation and came back, I don't think I will follow the same growth curve as players who continued playing soccer. Personally, I feel like I haven't even returned to zero, so the only way to give meaning to last year's injury is through this year's results. In that sense, I can't really say much at this point, but I have to make sure that in the end, it can be said that it was for the better, and I believe that depends on this year.
Q: Practice at the camp starts tomorrow. Please share your enthusiasm for this season.
As I mentioned in the contract renewal release, I want to be more hungry for results, or rather, I want to seek results as an individual. Of course, the team's results are important, but first, I want to achieve results myself, as I believe that will be the team's greatest strength. I don't have specific numbers in mind, but I want to study, absorb, and learn in various ways... First, I want to keep playing in matches, because without that, I can't see any future. I want to continue focusing on each task in front of me without change.
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