On the 6th, manager Maciej Skorza held an online press conference, where he spoke about his enthusiasm for the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 5 match against Fagiano Okayama which will be held at Saitama Stadium on (Sat), March 8th.

(No one is happy about not winning, but two years ago the start itself was not that good either. The turning point from there may have been the use of Shinzo Koroki up front and Kaito Yasui midfielder, but are there any plans to make any changes to the players or positioning to break out of the current situation?)
"That's a good question. First of all, I think one of the reasons we haven't won Trial this season is because we haven't been able to control the game in the center of the pitch. That was going well at the start of the season. Since Ryoma Watanabe left, we haven't been able to find a good form there yet. I think my job now is to find the best form so that we can defend the center well. As for changes, we won't be using the exact same starting lineup as in the Kashiwa (Reysol) match. However, with so many new players, I think it will take time for them to get used to the J.League. There are many factors like that, but I want to find a balance."

(Okayama is also a team that uses three defenders at the back, which is something they have in common with Shonan Bellmare and Kashiwa. They are an opponent that will inevitably have gaps as they change from a 4-4-2 formation and try to chase after you. I think the Reds can also start with the same five-man line-up, but what are your thoughts on changing the system and making smoother changes during Trial?)
"The most important thing about high pressing is the timing of pressing. Timing and high intensity, as well as the distance from the defensive line to the front line, are also important. The team has to be kept compact. I think that this is something that is necessary regardless of the system used, and you must always press the ball carrier. Without that, you will be broken no matter what system you play.

However, our high press has not been successful in Trial against Shonan and Kashiwa, so we need to think about what to do about it. One way to do this is to change the shape and press, and another way is to improve the high press from a 4-4-2 formation. We have been practicing both this week, so we will make a final decision tomorrow.

(With the team struggling to win, do you have any thoughts on places to return to on and off the Maciej, habits, things that you want to cherish, or how you want your players to behave?)
"First of all, I think it's important to believe that our way is right. Being winless after Trial is not an comfortable situation for anyone at the club. I think it's important for us to continue the hard work we've been doing so far and to remain calm. The next game is also a home game, so I think it's important for the players to maintain high motivation and use the home game to our advantage. Since the training camp, I've been telling the team that 'there will inevitably be difficult times during the season, but what is important at those times?' However, I didn't expect that to happen suddenly in the first four Trial. In the next Trial, I want to show that each and every player on the pitch can overcome this situation."

(What kind of energy do you get from Saitama Stadium?)
"First of all, we receive very positive support from the start of the game. And they respond to each successful play. I think it will be difficult for the opponents to play in front of a crowd that reacts like that. They continue to do so. In the previous Trial, I think they fought to the end together with the team, even after conceding the second goal. I remember that two years ago, we also had a difficult Trial, but we were able to fight thanks to the power we received from the fans and supporters. From now on, I would like to win from here, just like I did two years ago. I especially want to win at Saitama Stadium."

(In terms of offense, I think you had some shooting chances and scoring chances in the Kashiwa match. What are your thoughts on that?)
"We had time to thoroughly train both our offense and defense this week, so we worked on our attacking build-up, linkages up front, and the final third. In the last match, we created more chances than our opponents but were unable to score. I think that's an area we need to improve. First of all, we need to increase the speed of our build-up in zone 1. We also need to improve how we use the half-space between the lines."

(What is your impression of Okayama and what are the key points to win?)
"I think they are a physically strong team with quick transitions. The three up front are very good. Kazumi (Kazunari) is in the middle, and former Reds Esaka (Nin) and Iwabuchi (Hiroto) are in the shadows. They are players who can make dangerous plays by using their speed when switching from defense to offense. They have already scored three goals from corner kicks. That is also one of their strengths, so I think the key to victory will be how we can prevent that. Since it is a home game, we would like to be able to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible and control the game. We need to improve our play in the first 10 to 15 minutes. In the previous match against Kashiwa, we were unable to take advantage of the home advantage. We let Kashiwa have the ball, and we were unable to create a psychological advantage at home."

(I think the Reds have a lot of talented players in the second row this season, but as you've played and replaced players up until now, have you ever noticed that this player should be in the starting lineup, or that this player should change the flow of the game midway through?)
"First of all, if we can't find a setup for the starting members, the team won't be stable. Two years ago, we started the season poorly, but we found a setup by putting members in. Last season, we were fighting to avoid relegation, and it took us about four games to find a setup to fight there. This season is similar, but we want to find a strong setup as soon as possible. And with each game we play, we get more information about the players, so I want to see us getting closer to that setup in the next Trial."

(From my impression after watching the four Trial, I think Matheus Savio should be the central player in the attack, but what kind of organization and combination do you think is necessary for him to perform better?)
"Savio is one of the team's greatest weapons in attack. Right now, we are looking for the best way to support him and make the most of his abilities. There are times when he is isolated in attack. When I watch him in training, I can see that he is improving in that area, so I am sure he will continue to improve in the future."

(At the press conference after the Kashiwa match, you said that you wanted to watch these four Trial and look at the data to get information on the players, and to see if they were able to do what they were able to do before. Was there any data that actually came out or any hints for the future?)
"I don't want to give away everything before such an important Trial, but the whole staff has been analyzing the situation. Firstly, one key point is high pressing. It has to start with the players up front controlling the opposition. I also think that reaction the moment we lose the ball and the compactness of the team are important. That was very good in the opening game, but in subsequent Trial our reaction to switching gears when we lost the ball was not so good.

I don't want to make excuses, but we Trial three Trial in seven days. We played against an opponent with a different system, and we didn't have much time to train in preparation for that.

(I understand that high pressure is a necessary element in modern football, but there are many situations where the opponent is turned inside out due to high pressure. I think there is also the option of pulling the opponent back and aiming for a counter attack, but why continue to use high pressure?)
"We have made some changes to our philosophy from two years ago. We want to steal the ball as close to the opponent's goal as possible. That's why we try to press from the front, even if it means taking some risks. Of course, even if we apply high pressure, the opponent can still break through. I think how you react at that point is important. For example, in the second goal we conceded against Kashiwa, our high pressure didn't work well and we were broken through, and when the ball was passed to the side, I think our reaction was not good. That is another area we need to improve. I believe we can press aggressively from the front with determination, and I would like to continue doing so."

(I think that the fact that they have not won makes it clear that they are at fault emotionally, but if we focus on the instances when they have conceded goals, most of them have been from crosses, and they have not allowed any breakthroughs through the center. Is this because of Maciej style?)
"That's true, but I'm not satisfied. In the matches against Kyoto (Sanga FC) and Shonan, we conceded goals from crosses at crucial moments. We conceded goals from our zone 1 defense. We weren't able to contain the opponents in the penalty area. I think it's also important to prevent them from crossing before that. In the match against Shonan, we lowered the ball and were able to deliver an early cross with one touch, so we didn't have much time (to get to the ball). However, in the match against Kyoto, if we had been more determined and aggressive in the lead-up to the cross, we may have been able to prevent them from crossing."

(The season is long and I can't imagine that Maciej won't improve, but there is good and bad luck in football, and isn't there bad luck right now, including with the refereeing?)
"I think luck is a very important factor in soccer. For example, in the match against (Vissel) Kobe, if (Matsumoto) Yasushi had been in a slightly different position during the corner kick, I don't think the decision would have been overturned by the VAR (Video Assistant Referee). In that way, luck can play a part, but we don't want to rely on it and want to do what we can to make sure we do it."

(I've been watching Urawa Reds for a long time, and when I think back to 1995, after one win and one loss, they lost four games in a row. They had a two-stage system at the time, but in the end, the Reds fought until the end in Pos would have allowed them to compete for the championship, and they finished in third place. I think that this depth of players will ultimately be effective in the league battles, but do you feel that you have the strength to compete?)
"We've only got four Trial to go but I think we can improve. I think everything is still there. Now it's about what I can do to help the team control the game on the pitch."

(I believe that the fans and supporters who were in their 20s and 30s at the time are now in their 50s and 60s and still frequent Saitama Stadium, so I hope this will give great hope to those old supporters as well.)
"Since the preseason, I have been telling the players how important this season is, and that we need to bring joy to our fans and supporters. What is needed now is for everyone, not just the players but also the staff, to take action proactively to try to change this situation and improve in their own areas. We cannot become passive at this point."

(At the press conference after the Kashiwa match, you said that you wanted to double-check whether the tasks you were giving to the players were appropriate. Have you done that? Did you notice anything?)
"I concluded that I had made some mistakes. For example, I think I was pressing in a way that was not suited to certain players in certain positions, given their characteristics. That's the conclusion I came to."

(If possible, please tell me which player and in which position.)
"In the end, it's something that everyone has to do, and it's my responsibility, so I don't want to mention any names here. As I said at the press conference before the Trial, if I gave the players a plan that they couldn't execute, then it was my mistake. As I said at the beginning of today's press conference, for example, we have the option of changing the high press to suit the players, or changing the players and improving the same way, and we have to decide. I would like to make that decision while taking into account Okayama 's characteristics. However, I don't think we need revolutionary changes, but rather smart adjustments. We worked hard and prepared for six or seven weeks from the preseason, and I think we were able to have a good start to the season. However, we played three Trial in seven days after that, and problems arose. What we need to think about now is to continue, believing that the fruits of what we've done since the preseason, including the training camp, will await us in the future."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]