On the 27th, after the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 23 match Avispa Fukuoka [MATCH PARTNER Polas Group], Shusaku Shusaku Nishikawa, who kept the team scoreless, reflected on today's Trial.

Looking back on today's Trial
"I thought we had to hold on at the back. We started the first half well, but as the opponents started to have the ball and we started to move it around, I felt like we were getting tired. We had to hold on today, but we were playing at home so we had to win, and I thought if we could keep the back line empty we would definitely have a chance, but it turned out to be a difficult Trial."

(I think there were a lot of set pieces today?)
"I think my strengths were apparent in my response to crosses, and I was positioning myself with the primary goal of preventing the other team from taking a shot, so I think I really enjoyed responding to shots before they were taken today."

(You have to learn from these difficult Trial, but is there anything you want to change?)
"The awareness of shooting has improved considerably compared to before, with players like (Kaito) Yasui, and our front line players have good shooting skills, so we need to keep shooting. Even if they don't go in, it's unpleasant for the defending team, and we need to do the same to the other team that we don't like when they do it to us. I think it will be important from now on."

(As a goalkeeper, do you communicate such things to your team?)
"I want to encourage them in a positive way, like, 'You have good shots, so let's keep taking them!' I want to communicate and support them in that way."

(If they had won, they would have been six points behind the leaders, Vissel Kobe, but with the draw they are now eight points behind. I'm sure you're feeling a lot different now.)
"Ideally we would have gone into the break with a six-point lead. None of us were happy with the draw, and seeing the reaction of the home fans and supporters after the game made us realise that we really should have won. We all share the same feelings and are doing our best, but we also live in a world where results are everything, so we need to keep fighting with a strong mindset."

(There was some booing, though?)
"I think it's a reflection of how we performed, and I really felt that our opponents were better than us. However, I saw everyone doing their best, so although the situation was really tough, with consecutive games in the summer, I want to take the fact that we didn't lose as a positive. Next up is a new tournament (the Emperor's Cup), which has something in common with Asia. We are going to play in the (FIFA) Club World Cup again, together with our fans and supporters, and I think that battle has already begun, so I want to fight hard not only in the league, but also in the Emperor's Cup."

(How does your experience at the Club World Cup help you here?)
"That disappointment is hard to alleviate in the J.League. It was the same when we played against Manchester City FC, but there are some things you can only understand in a world tournament, and I think not only I but also the young players felt that this time, and in order to perform normally at that level, we need to play with a high level of awareness in the J.League as well, and I think that's an area where we as a club need to change something. I think we need to be very conscious about that, or at least, to play with a high level of awareness."

(The rules for goalkeeper possession have changed and will be adopted in the J-League in the future. What do you think about giving it a try?)
"Since it starts in the summer, I think it will be very tough for the players on the field. When a goalkeeper catches the ball in a situation where they are being pushed back, there will naturally be times when they cannot move forward, and I think it will be difficult for the players to know how to use that time. I have experience in the Club World Cup, so I have a certain understanding of the timing and what to do when time is running out, but I think there will be some goalkeepers and teams that struggle this summer."

(Do you have an image in your mind?)
"I was thinking of waiting for the referee to raise his hand before making a decision, so when he goes up and does 5-4-3-2-1, I thought I would just have to think about where to kick in those five seconds. It's important not to rush. But I think if the person receiving the ball isn't connected to you, not just you, then the place where you kick and the quality of the ball you kick will be decided."

(The added bonus is that you have to watch the referee.)
"I'll keep an eye on the referee and use that as a good guide. I think I can show my feeds, so I'll try to make good decisions in the 8 seconds I have to throw balls that will upset the other team."

(Nishikawa's feeds are a big weapon for the Reds, so I think he was very wary of them today too.)
"That's right. There was absolutely no space behind us, and conversely, I think the only space we had was in front of us. I imagined all the players up front coming at us, and I think they were exerting great pressure. On the other hand, we had periods where we were able to keep possession of the ball, so our aim was to stay calm and advance."

Q: I think you became a goalkeeper who used your feet quite early in your career. What made you decide to become that way?
"In junior high school, I played goalkeeper and forward in the second half, so I had experience as a field player, and I was confident in that area. Even at the development age, I think it's good to not only play goalkeeper, but also to be involved in field training."

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