Q: I think last season you made your own judgment about entering the game, but this season, are you receiving specific instructions on how to play depending on the opponent's positioning?
A, it's not that everything is strictly defined; they respect the ideas we come up with. What has been mentioned is that if Adailton is in front of me, I should ensure that Adailton and I do not overlap vertically. If I am opening up, then Adailton should move inside, or vice versa, just to avoid overlapping.
Q: It is said that we should not overlap in the same lane.
A, that's right. It is often said that the players' sense of distance and the lanes do not overlap.
Q: Based on the principles, does that mean we can proceed with our own judgment from here on out?
A, especially in front of the goal or when we are attacking, we are told to break through with our own ideas. We also find it easier that way, and if we are too constrained by a set pattern, I think we won't be able to cope when we can't execute it, so we are allowed to play freely there.
Q: Although it is still early, are the patterns increasing with each game?
A, I can really understand the coach's message. However, I also understand that we are still far from the ideal form that Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA envisions. The coach has said that it is not an easy style of football, and we ourselves feel that as well. However, I believe that if we focus on not overlapping lanes and valuing the distance between players, good plays and combinations will naturally emerge.
Q: There are practice matches scheduled in Itoman as well, but here we can see how much we were able to do or not do by actually facing a J League club.
A, I think there are many things that can only be understood through matches, and I don't believe everything will go smoothly. I believe there are more things that don't go well for me, but I think if we improve every time a challenge arises, we can play really good soccer and become a great team.
Q: Has your awareness of care changed due to injuries from last season?
A. Last season, I didn't see the trainer or get massages very often, but since my injury, I have been getting thorough checks and treatment during this camp. I have also started to practice stretching more carefully before and after training.
Q: Do you feel that there have been changes or influences in how you approach your body and your play?
A, since I haven't had many injuries since turning professional, the times I was injured made me think a lot. I'm not afraid of getting injured and it doesn't make me hesitant to play, but overall I've had to prepare more, so I think I can enter the game smoothly.
Q: With the addition of player Nagatomo and the participation of Kashif BANGNAGANDE, you have also played as a right back, but do you still want to compete on the left side this season?
A, I had hardly played on the right side, so it was a completely new experience and I really enjoyed it. However, I still have a strong desire to aim for the top on the left side, and I want to play on the left side this season. But when I played on the right side, I often took positions in the middle, so I believe that experience will be beneficial on the left side this season.
Q: Will you watch the Japan national team match tonight (1/28)?
A, yes, I watch. I try to watch both national team matches and other football matches.
Q: Last season, I was selected for the national team and I believe I am part of what Coach Hajime MORIYASU refers to as the large group. Please tell me about your awareness of aiming for that now that your injury has healed.
A, as a football player, I believe I should aim for the Japan national team, and I have set that as my goal. Since there is a World Cup this season, I want to be conscious of working towards returning to the Japan national team.
Q: When you played as a right back, how did you balance the use of your right and left foot?
A. There were situations on the right side where I had to hold the ball open, so there were moments when I used my right foot, but my strength lies in playing with my left foot. Therefore, I focused on positioning myself inward to utilize my left foot as much as possible and played in a way that maximized its use.
Q: I think there will be more opportunities to play inside this year depending on the situation. Don't you think the experiences from last season can be applied then?
A, I don't have a cramped image of playing inside, so I think I can play within the flow, and I believe I can utilize my experience from last season playing on the right side.
Q: Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA mentioned that while he requires basic lane movements, he allows players to handle the final moments themselves. However, it seems that we are still in the stage of establishing the foundation, similar to what happened in Niigata, where there were different approaches over two seasons. Do you feel that what you are trying to achieve has the potential to develop further in the future?
A. I believe that during practice, we have come to understand the style of football that the coach wants to implement. However, the reality is that we have not yet been able to embody that. I think that when we can play the football that the coach envisions, we will have grown as individual football players, and as a team, we will have become a very complete and strong team.
Q: I think this applies to both Tokyo and the Japan national team, but there is a discussion that formations are only the starting positions and that once the kickoff happens, they become irrelevant. However, the better things get, the more I feel that formations become less important. Is there a clear path regarding this matter?
A, just as Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA says about freedom at the end, my positioning as I move inside is important, and although I am in the position of a side back, I may also have a role similar to that of a defensive midfielder. I believe there will be moments when that defensive midfielder breaks forward like a forward. If we stick too rigidly to positional roles, it will be easier for the opponent to defend, so I hope we can break down the final moments of the attack fluidly without being too constrained by positional boundaries.
Q: I believe you have learned a lot from the solid defense and quick counterattacks under former coach Hasegawa over the past four seasons. What are you looking forward to by working on a different style under coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA?
A, I feel like I can improve as a soccer player, and I feel like my footwork is getting better.
Q: There was a discussion about lanes and positioning, but in this soccer, I think full-backs are required to be playmakers and take on many roles. How do you feel about that?
A, the positioning of the full-backs is highly demanded. There are also discussions about how to receive the ball and hold it openly. I believe that many attacks start from the full-backs, so I feel that if I don't take the lead there, the team won't perform well.
Q: On the other hand, what are the important aspects you focus on in defense and the risk management you are aware of because you play an attacking style of football?
Rather than a defense that retreats, we aim to maintain possession of the ball and prevent the opponent from attacking. I believe we want to regain the ball quickly in the forward line after losing it and turn it back into our possession. We have been implementing the transition between offense and defense and high pressing from the front since last season, but the way we apply pressure is different, so we are adjusting what the coach is saying with what we do on the pitch. Essentially, I think the approach of pressing from the front remains unchanged.
Q: While watching the practice, I think Coach Albert is conscious of transitions, tempo, and speed. Is this required for both offense and defense?
A, while the attack is important, the pressing when switching to defense is often emphasized, and I am conscious of taking the ball away from the opponent at that moment.
Q: This season, Morishige has been appointed as captain. What is your mindset about supporting Morishige, whom you admire?
A, I wonder if that person needs support (laughs). I don't think it's necessary for me to support them to that extent, and since I was a captain before, I have a strong image of Morishige being the captain since my first year. The vice-captain Diego TABA is the same, but while not everyone is a captain, I want each player to play with a strong sense of awareness.
Q: You mentioned the enthusiasm of player Morishige towards soccer. Is the entire team, including player Ogawa, approaching practice with a proactive attitude?
I think the players are fresh with the new style of soccer, and the training menu will change, and there will be many difficult aspects, but I believe each individual can really feel their growth within that.
Q: I believe that new players will be key to the different style of football we will have. What are your impressions of players Kimoto and Henrique among the defense?
A, Kimoto is originally a player with good footwork, and I think he will fit into Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's style of play. As for Henrique, there are many Brazilian players on the team, so Diego and Leandro have been including him in the group. Since he is left-footed, I think he will be in a similar position to mine, and I believe the communication there is quite good.
Q: There are many young new players joining, but how are the senior players welcoming them?
A, there are few players in the middle age group in Tokyo and many young players, so I hope they will play without hesitation, and I think it's fine if they can push and challenge the senior players. I think it would be great if they could be more aggressive from the camp onwards.
Q: With Nagatomo also in the team, I think you have to win the competition for the left-back position to get on the field. What are your thoughts on that?
A, basically, I am aiming for the Japan national team, and since Nagatomo is the left back for the Japan national team, I think it ultimately comes down to the same thing. I believe that if we don't win there, I won't be able to join the Japan national team no matter how long it takes.
Q: There will be a World Cup at the end of this year, are you aware of it?
A, it would be a lie to say I don't think about it, and my desire to participate in the World Cup is very strong, so I believe this year is a chance, and I think this year will be an important year to seize my position.
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