On the 3rd, after the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 14 match against Tokyo Verdy [MATCH PARTNER Medical Care Services], Shusaku Shusaku Nishikawa, who kept a clean sheet in his Trial official Trial, reflected on Trial.

"We were playing at home during Golden Week and lots of kids were there, so we really wanted to win today, and we wanted to play a good Trial and carry that momentum into the next game."

(What has improved since before?)
"I think it was a good thing that we struggled in the early stages. We played our own style of football, but also found some issues, and I think it was important that we continued to do that without wavering. It's good that the experience we gained in the first 10 Trial is now showing in our results. Also, we've been talking about working together when it's time to fight, so I think without that we wouldn't be able to fight.

Right now, we basically go with a high press, but there are teams that are good at breaking through that high press depending on the opponent, and when we can't go in, we can wait in the middle, so I think we've become able to use it appropriately. Against teams that are good at passing, like Cerezo Osaka and Kashiwa Kashiwa Reysol, we continued to go in even when our high press didn't work, and we didn't get results, so I think we're doing well now because we're making use of that experience in the long league. I feel that we need to take a long-term view of the league and grow one step at a time."

(Today, Taishi Matsumoto played as a defensive midfielder.)
"I know his strengths, and we played the same style of football no matter who was in the team. We were able to keep the momentum going and pass the ball to each other calmly. I think we were able to watch how the other team played, find their weak points and exploit them."

(Was the reason you were pushed back after being reduced to 10 men due to poor communication within the team?)
"With our offensive players coming in, we were naturally aiming for the third goal, but I also felt that the importance of strength and weakness was important towards the end of the second half. We need to pay close attention to how we proceed in the second half as a team and make improvements, such as trying to get behind the defense while keeping the ball firmly connected."

(Did you finish with a clean sheet?)
"We played some really good football in the first half. Watching from behind, I could see that they made good transitions. In the second half, they let us have the ball a little, and I thought that was something that should have happened within the 90 minutes. It's better not to let them have the ball, but we were playing against an opponent so we had to stay calm and be conscious of not conceding goals from set pieces, and it was good that we were able to defend in that kind of atmosphere."

(I think the tactics are coming together, but what other factors have led to your winning streak?)
"Simply put, it's the quick switching. When the player at the front gets the ball over my head, they can switch really quickly, and in the first half there were scenes where two or three players surrounded one player. I think that kind of hard work from everyone is leading to results. When we are losing or in a not so good Trial, I can see from behind that we are not able to do that. I want everyone to be more conscious of that."

(Pos has now risen to second place, but are you conscious of Pos?)
"At the moment I'm not too worried about it. I think we just Trial each Trial one Trial. The league is long so we don't know how it will turn out, so we just need to stay calm and keep fighting at the top. By continuing to fight at the top, I think a different kind of tension will come out of it and everyone will be able to fight with a sharper mindset. Even though we've had a lot of experiences, we've continued to fight at the top, and I think the real battle awaits us in the final five Trial, so I think it's important that we continue to stay at the top until then."

(There are over 50,000 fans and supporters here today, which is not an everyday environment. How do you feel about playing in front of such a large crowd?)
"It feels really good. In particular, a lot of children came, and I think that if we win, it will be a way to give back to them and make them want to go again, so I really want to win at all costs, and as you said, I don't think that Urawa Reds Reds fans and supporters are something to be taken for granted. I'm very grateful that they go through all sorts of trouble to buy tickets for us and come to support us, and I think it's our responsibility to make sure that they go home with a smile on their face. I want to continue fighting together with that feeling in the future."

(The manager also praised the power of the fans and supporters, saying, "There was some magic.")
"The coach has often said that this is a 'Magic Stadium' after the 2023 ACL (AFC Champions League) final. With over 50,000 fans and supporters coming to the stadium, the adrenaline rush is incredible, and I really feel that we are being supported by everyone."

(Today marked your Trial official match.)
"I myself haven't really been thinking about it that much. Health comes first, and I have a lot of support from a lot of people who take care of me, so I want to continue doing the basic things properly and putting health first."

(Among his 800 Trial, he has won many titles, including two ACL titles, the Emperor's Cup, and the YBC Levain Cup.)
"Listening to it now, I realize that's how I won the title. It was a very fulfilling 800 Trial, and what I achieved there was something big. It's something I have to aim for in the future. I think people will tell me to do my best because that's what I'm aiming for, so I want to continue to keep the title in mind."

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[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]