2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League, Section 21 against Shonan Bellmare [MATCH PARTNER RDC] Trial Comments after

First, I would like to talk about two points. Today we had the discipline and determination that is necessary both at home and away. Even away from home, I think we must fight with the same determination that we had today. If we had that in the previous game, I think the points we have now would have been different. Today, we showed a different attitude from the previous game, more determined and tactically disciplined, and I think that was good.

And today, set plays were our strength, with almost four goals coming from set plays such as CKs and throw-ins. I would like to thank Coach Masato Maesako, our set play coach.

(Shonan is a very organized team in the build-up, so we changed our high press a little today, with both wings going to the front of the high press to press. Because of their hard work, we had to make a change in about the 65th minute. In times when the game is competitive, I believe that determination on the ball can be the difference between winning and losing, so that is what we did today to achieve that.

I am happy that for the first time this season we scored four goals in an official match. I am also happy that Hiiro Komori scored his first goal for Reds. And I think it was also a good aspect that a player who started in the middle of the game scored two goals."

[Q&A]
(What were your thoughts on the substitutions? Also, what were your thoughts when Hirokazu Ishihara players were down after you made five substitutions?)
The first substitution was due to (Watanabe) Ryoma's injury, which came as a surprise to us. At that time, Yusuke (Matsuo) came in as a top player.

Then, when our high press became less effective, we made three substitutions. I think Hiiro Komori, Takuro (Kaneko) and Savio (Matheus) did a good job. It was also a substitution so that Savio, who has three warnings accumulated, would be available Trial on Sunday if Ryoma could not play on Sunday. So Yasushi (Matsumoto) came in, the wingers switched, and Yusuke became the striker. The third goal came right away, so I think it was an easy situation for them to play.

However, Shonan also played well in the final third, and a goal was conceded. We were a little nervous at that time. But we didn't break down there, and Thiago (Santana) scored the fourth goal to Trial decide the game. We are happy to have scored 4 goals in total.

In the last 10 minutes, both Ogi (Takuya Ogiwara), Hiro (Hirokazu Ishihara) and Samuel (Gustafsson) had physical problems, but we chose Samuel from among them. We knew Hiro had problems, but in the worst case we had the option to swap positions with Taka (Takahiro Sekine). But Hiro is a very strong player and a fighter. I think he is a player who can help the team in those situations."

(Yusuke Matsuo and Thiago Santana players, while the last 2 Trial have used Hiiro Komori players as starters. Matsuo has speed and Santana has power, but what do you expect from Komori? What do you expect from Komori? Will you use him differently in the future depending on your opponents and your plans?)
Komori is a very interesting player who can provide the attacking movement we need. He also connects us with the midfield. He has never played in the J1 League before, but now he is adapting to the J1 League while playing as a starter.

Of course, Yusuke is also a very good striker, and Thiago showed his quality today. I think that in the future Trial we may change strikers, depending on the tactics."

("After Ryoma Watanabe player got injured, I think it has been normal to put Matheus Savio player at the top, but why did you use Yusuke Matsuo player in that position in today's Trial?)
Today, in order to use the big space behind Shonan, our tactic was for the top players to go through to the back. I wanted to use Yusuke's speed there. Yusuke is also good at playing between the lines. One of our goals was to have him and Savio switch positions from time to time, but Savio was doing well on the left, and Yusuke, when he first joined the team, sometimes dropped back a little too far.

Also, Savio was pressing well as a left winger, so we decided to keep Savio basically on the left.

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]