Post-match comments for the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 18 Trial against Nagoya Grampus

"I think Nagoya was the better team today. They were the team that deserved to win. We couldn't get into a rhythm or control the game. There weren't many good moments Trial.

Individual mistakes were more noticeable than usual in Trial. I couldn't perform well and I can't say it was a good day, but despite that we managed to score a point and take the lead, so I wish we had managed the last 10 minutes better. However, we weren't able to do that today and couldn't take home the points."

[Question and Answer Session]
(I think the inability to create chances was also due to the change in seven players from the previous match. By removing Kaito Yasui from the starting lineup for the first time this season, a hole was created in the midfield, which seemed to disrupt the balance between offense and defense. I think I understand why the coach continued to use Yasui.)
"The decision to replace seven players in the starting lineup was a forced one due to the current situation. Considering the physical aspects, we must avoid injuries at all costs at this stage. I think the substitute players did their best, but for them too, it was Trial they had to take on with only two training sessions.

I think Kaito (Yasui) is a very important player who balances the team's offense and defense."

(Will it be difficult to put together a team with both Ryoma Watanabe and Yasui unavailable at the same time?)
"I originally wanted to leave both of them in Saitama to rest, but that wasn't possible. Even if they had played, I had planned for them to play for a shorter time, but today I made the decision at halftime to take a bit of a risk. The team is exhausted, and we didn't bring home any points. My decisions aren't always right, either."

(After taking a 1-0 lead, were there any times when it would have been okay to just close the gap, such as when Takahiro Sekine was substituted?)
"In the case of (Takahiro) Sekine, the aim was to keep up a high press by bringing in a fresh winger. Today we played to win. When (Miki) Nagakura was brought on, I had to choose between adding another defender or replacing a forward, and I chose a striker. However, I don't think my decision today was good."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]