Post-match comments for the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 13 Trial Kawasaki Frontale

"I think it was a very interesting Trial. The intensity and tactical level of the Trial was very high. I believe Kawasaki is a team that will be competing for the title this season. And for this difficult away Trial, we made six changes to our players from the previous match.

After about 15 or 20 minutes, I think we were able to control the game. However, we should have used the space more. There was space behind Kawasaki's defensive line, and Toshiki (Takahashi) was moving into that space, but I don't think we were able to use it well enough.

We made substitutions early in the second half, but that wasn't because Toshiki or (Nakajima) Shoya were bad today, but because we had a set we wanted to check before the Club World Cup. We played in the second half in a similar way to the first half of FC Tokyo match. However, we couldn't get into the rhythm. The four players in the second half today didn't work as well together as they did in the previous match.

I think the bad thing about today's Trial was the second goal we conceded. It was a result of poor build-up in zone 1. However, the whole team fought until the end and scored the equalizer in the last second. One point may not be enough, but considering the flow of the Trial, it's a positive thing.

I would like to pay tribute to the efforts of our players who kept fighting and working hard until the end. I would also like to thank the fans and supporters who fought with us to the end in this difficult away Trial. Although we were only able to deliver one point today, it may have been a valuable point considering the difficult opponent.

We have another very difficult away game waiting for us in two and a half days. We want to prepare thoroughly for that.”

[Question and Answer Session]
(The Club World Cup is coming up soon. I would like to ask you about your preparations, goals and what it means for the club.)
"The Club World Cup is a historic and unique tournament for Urawa Reds. This is our first time participating in a Club World Cup that is being held in a new format. It is an important tournament, but it is difficult for us as it is being held in the middle of the season. On the way to the Club World Cup, there are still very important J.League Trial remaining. I think that the J.League Trial themselves will be good preparation for the Club World Cup. For example, I think today's Trial was one such example."

(Today we made a bold change to the members. Did you discover anything new?)
"I can't share everything, but for me it was a very interesting Trial. Today was the first time we used Toshiki and Shoya as strikers and attacking midfielders. Toshiki is similar to Thiago (Santana), but it is not yet clear whether Thiago will be ready in time for the Club World Cup. With that in mind, I felt we needed to get Toshiki prepared as well. Today, I think they played a very good game."

(Including today's Trial, a substitute player has scored a goal in three consecutive Trial.)
"I get the impression that development in various aspects is accelerating now. I also think that the players' concentration is improving. Also, each player wants to play in the starting line-up at the Club World Cup, so I think they feel that they have to show what they can do here and now.

And with everyone working hard, I think the situation you just mentioned will bring about a good mental environment."

(In recent years, you have often lost the ball during throw-ins. How are you improving on that?)
"We understand that right now, that is not one of our strengths. That is why the coach in charge of set pieces is providing training and advice on this issue, but sometimes it happens due to a lack of concentration on the part of individual players. However, I think that there are many instances where we try to go on the offensive when the ball is still evenly split and we don't have the ball yet."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]