2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 14 match against Tokyo Verdy [MATCH PARTNER Medical Care Services] Trial comments

"I think the first half was very good. We controlled the game and scored two goals. We also had other chances and didn't let the opponent get close to our penalty area, so I think we did a very good job.

In the second half, the opponents started to push more aggressively, but I think we managed to contain them. We weren't able to create any chances, but we didn't allow the opponents to do so either. That was until the opponent got a red card.

I am not satisfied with how we played after our player was sent off. We let the other team play freely with 10 men. We must not lose concentration after our opponent has a player sent off. We must learn from this.

But we managed to win without conceding any goals. I'm very happy to have been able to win consecutive games in front of so many fans and supporters. I think the opposing team was feeling the excitement created by the fans and supporters from the start of the game, so you could say that the magic of this stadium was apparent.

I would like to praise the fans and supporters and the team. I am grateful. From now on, I will make a full recovery and prepare for today's big win against Gamba Osaka."

[Question and Answer Session]
(Samuel Gustafson was unable to play in today's Trial, and Taishi Matsumoto played instead. What is your assessment of him?)
"I think (Matsumoto) Yasushi did a good job. It wasn't an easy task for Yasushi, as Samuel (Gustafsson) had been in good form up until now. But he did a great job today. His running in behind the opponent's defensive line was particularly impressive. I think it was a good game for Yasushi today."

(In the first half, Tokyo Verdy made good use of the space in the midfield, but perhaps their preparations were flawed.)
"We practiced the formation we executed in the first half. In zone 1, we basically built up in a 4-2 formation. The aim was for Yasushi and Kaito (Yasui) to take positions a little lower in order to draw out the opposing defensive midfielders. We also aimed for the space behind the defense with quick side changes, and the first goal came from that formation.

We knew that Tokyo Verdy was a team that would return to their territory quickly and build up their defense early when they lost the ball. Even after entering the last zone, we tried to use the space behind them.

We were aiming to get behind the defense in zone 3, and we were also aiming to do the same in zone 2. (Takahashi) Toshiki made that move, which led to the opponent's red card. We had prepared this kind of formation for our build-up.

Defensively, we prepared to apply high pressure from the start, and I think we played well overall."

(The opponents responded well in the second half, but isn't the way they fight after being responded necessary to take the next step?)
"I want to become a team that can score with dangerous plays even during difficult times when things aren't going well, but I think we still have a long way to go until then. I will remain humble and work hard to achieve that goal."

(Especially in the first half, the players seemed to be coming into their own attacks like never before, but in what ways have they improved to be able to play like that?)
"Coach Ikeda (Nobuyasu) and Coach Maesako (Masato) have been working on build-up play. They especially emphasized timing. They have given us very good training, and I think the results are showing."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]