On the 24th local time, at the Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), head coach Maciej Skorza attended the official press conference the day before the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Stage MD3 Trial. He spoke about his enthusiasm for the final group stage match against CF Monterrey and answered questions from reporters.

(What do you know about CF Monterrey apart from players like Sergio Ramos and Sergio Canales? How have you seen them play and how have you prepared the team for this final Trial of the group stage?)
"Monterrey are a team with an excellent balance between attack and defence. I think they have a very interesting formation. Their defence is very solid, as they have proven in the two Trial so far, especially against Inter Milan. Tactically they are also a very solid team, being able to flexibly change their playing system even during Trial. And as for individual players, Nelson De Ossa, for example, is very impressive. They are a really interesting team, with very hard-working, technically and tactically excellent players."

(What kind of attitude do you think Monterrey will have tomorrow, considering they will be competing in the final tournament?)
"We expect Monterrey to start Trial with a very strong spirit. We know that they have to win this Trial, but it is also our last Trial in the tournament. That gives us an extra reason to take our determination to win to the highest level. For most of us, it will probably be the last Trial in our careers in the Club World Cup, which is why we want to finish the tournament with a win. No matter how determined Monterrey is, we want to do everything we can to win. We have to go up against them, show our strengths, exploit their weaknesses and fight to score goals."

(I have two questions. First, although the defeat has been confirmed, what will be your theme for tomorrow's Trial? Second, it may be an asset for the club to give many players experience. Are you considering changing the members a little bit tomorrow?)
"We are considering using a few new players for tomorrow's Trial, but our aim is first and foremost to win. We want to win our last Trial of the tournament and we will do everything we can to achieve that. So we are focused on that above all else and want to use the players who, in my eyes, will get us the closest to achieving that goal."

(There are reports in the Polish media that you have received an offer to become the national team coach. Can you please tell me, to the extent that you can, what the actual situation is?)
"It is true that I have received an offer. The Polish Football Association has made such a proposal. It would certainly be a great honour for me to become the manager of my country's national team, to become the manager of the Polish national team. But at the moment I have other goals, other challenges. We are in the middle of a very important tournament and we are just over halfway through a very important J.League season. I want to focus on preparing the team as well as possible for tomorrow's Trial and also on the fight for the highest Pos in the second half of the J.League season. And I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to coach the Polish national team again."

(What do you think about Mexican soccer and the Mexican league? And what do you think about the opposing manager, Domenech Torrent, who was assistant to Pep Guardiola?)
"The manager of Monterrey is a good specialist. If you weren't a really good specialist you wouldn't be on Pep Guardiola's staff, so I don't think I need to explain any more about the level of the manager of Monterrey.
Speaking of the Mexican League, this is my second time playing against a Mexican team. I played against Club Leon in the Club World Cup two years ago. We won after a very tough battle. The Mexican League is a very dynamic and lively league, and I think there are many technically excellent offensive players. However, what impresses me about Mexican football is the combination of expression, physical strength, fighting spirit, and determination, along with technique and speed of play. The speed of play is quite fast, and that offensive attitude makes the league very attractive.

(If it were a team from another country, after two losses, they would think there was no point in fighting anymore, but this is a Japanese team. The pride and honor of Japanese athletes is never in question. This seems to be a concern for the Mexican team. If it were a team from another country, they would lose their fighting spirit, but I think that is not the case for Japan. What do you think, coach?)
"Whether today and tomorrow we face a Mexican team or a team from another country, our determination is utmost. As you say, it's a matter of pride and a desire to show our best at all costs, even if it means being eliminated from the tournament. We want to show ourselves as a team that is determined, that fights to the end and wants to win at all costs. We also have a responsibility to our fans, who fought with us to the end in these two Trial, especially against Inter, and gave us great support. That's why it was even more painful for us not to be able to achieve at least a draw as a result, for them, who created such a great atmosphere. So we want to achieve that tomorrow. I believe in my players, my team and their determination. Japanese footballers are full of pride and fighting spirit and I have no doubt that they will give their all in a situation like this."

(Tomorrow's third match. Both teams faced strong opponents in the first two Trial, and were forced to endure to some Trial. I think this will be a battle where each team will show their best style. What are your thoughts on this?)
"Looking back, I can only say this: not enough, not enough, not enough and not enough again. I really regret the first Trial, especially the first 20 to 25 minutes. We started poorly and couldn't keep the rhythm of Trial. Then in the second half we played a lot better, we fought them better, we controlled Trial, we created chances and we scored a goal. But unfortunately we also conceded a goal very easily. The second Trial, against Inter, also left me feeling disappointed. Of course, Inter were totally dominating us, we were forced into a defensive role and it was really difficult to keep the ball in their half. But we still scored goals and drew the game. We were close to the end, with two minutes to go. So again, we were left feeling unsatisfied. So after these Trial, this feeling is what I have more than anything. But analysing these two Trial and watching the players from the bench during Trial, I feel that in many areas we lack experience on the international stage. I think this is also one of the factors that we had to go through in this tournament. But the positive thing is that we have already played two Trial, and I am sure that in this third Trial, we will be able to play the best we have ever played in that aspect. And we expect ourselves that this will be our best Trial in this tournament.”

(The Rose Bowl Stadium, where tomorrow's Trial will be played, is a very important venue for soccer, having been the venue for the 1994 US World Cup final. How do you feel about standing on that stage as a coach and fighting there?)
"I've always seen this stadium somewhere since I was a child, when I first became interested in football, so I'm happy to be here for the first time in my life. But above all, when I hear this stadium, I remember that very final (Brazil vs Italy) and Roberto Baggio's penalty kick. I was a big Roberto Baggio fan at the time and that shot really hurt me. I felt like I was standing in the goal. So, really, I feel something special here. The atmosphere in this stadium is really special."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]