On the 5th, Isaac Kiese Thelin 's signing press conference was held online, where he answered questions from the media about the circumstances of his joining the team and his aspirations for the future.

Isaac Kiese Thelin
"Hello. I'm Isaac. I'm 33 years old and I'm from Sweden. My previous club was Malmö FF, and my position was forward."

[Questions and Answers]
(What should we call Isaac?)
"My name is Isaac."

(You've played in various countries, but what made you decide to play in Japan now that you're 33 years old?)
"First of all, I had heard that (the Reds) were a big club, and I was looking for an environment like that. My Swedish friends had told me very positive things. I have experience in various countries. I am excited to be able to play in Asia, in Japan, and I had also heard a lot about the country itself, so the fact that both the club and the country were a good fit for me was a major reason."

(You mentioned being a Swedish friend, but who did you hear that from?)
"I'm talking about Samuel (Gustafsson). I asked him a lot of questions, and he gave me some pretty positive information."

(You mentioned it was a big club, but what were your impressions of the fans, supporters, and the team after watching Trial at Saitama Stadium?)
"I thought it was a fantastic atmosphere and a great stadium. I've always loved the atmosphere created by the fans and supporters, and playing in big stadiums, so I can't wait to play at Saitama Stadium."

(What are your impressions of Maciej Skorza 's style of football, and what aspects of your own game do you envision incorporating to score goals?)
"First of all, we have a lot of players with great technique and skill, and they are quick and agility, so I think the overall level of the team is very high. I'm not the type to talk about myself in detail, but I want to be a good target player and showcase my strengths in working in the penalty area."

(What was the reason for choosing jersey number 99?)
"I used to wear the number 9, but it's no longer available, so I've worn two numbers."

(Given your current physical condition, when do you hope to be involved in Trial again?)
"There are many factors involved in my condition. There have been times when I haven't played for several weeks, and Japan, in particular, has a completely different environment from my home country, especially with the heat. First of all, I want to make sure I can properly cope with this heat. When I will play is up to the manager, so I leave it up to him."

(At what point in time do you personally want to leave?)
"The rules allow me to play at any time, so I'm always ready. It's up to the manager to decide."

(You've played football in many different countries, but what do you consider important for success in a new country and a new club?)
"First and foremost, I think building friendly relationships with teammates and getting to know each other is the most important thing, both on and off the pitch. Understanding each other's playing habits and building relationships is crucial. Off the pitch, I want to maintain an attitude of respecting and accepting Japanese culture, and learning wherever I go. As I mentioned earlier, I want to build relationships with my teammates in terms of playing ability. It may take time, but that's what I'm focusing on."

(Japan has a completely different climate from Sweden, but what are your impressions after actually spending a few days there?)
"First of all, the heat is incredible. I've never played in this kind of heat before. I played in Abu Dhabi as well, but I think this is probably even hotter than Abu Dhabi. What I've realized over the past week is that I need to get used to it. However, it rained today, which made it more bearable as it was similar to the environment I was in before."

(Currently, Urawa Reds have Gustafsson, and in the past, David Moberg Karlsson and Emil Salomonsson have played in the J.League, but how do Swedish players view the J.League?)
"I think it's too early to go into details, but I think the individual skills and tactics are different between Sweden and Japan. Sweden is more tactical, and I think Japan has higher technical skill. There are some differences in individual skills. Also, I think Japan is faster at transitioning between offense and defense."

(You played against Gustafsson in the Swedish league, but what kind of player was Gustafsson from Isaac's perspective?)
"I think he's a difficult player to face. Even when we put pressure on him, he always finds a passing lane and manages to get the ball through to the player behind him. He's a very good player. He's someone you always have to be careful of when you're playing against him; he's a very intelligent player. He has excellent passing ability."

(You'll be teammates from now on, what kind of play do you want to show together?)
"It's a great pleasure to be able to play alongside him as a teammate. He's a difficult opponent, so it's nice to have him on my team. I expect to receive some fantastic passes from him. I think we can build a good relationship not only on the pitch but also off it."

(According to local reports, when you left your previous club, Malmö, you mentioned wanting to give opportunities to younger players. What were your thoughts when you made that decision?)
"I had a lot of emotions. I was at a great club, and I loved Malmö. It's a club where I won many titles and had wonderful experiences. However, when it came time to leave, I felt it was the right time. It was also the time to move on to a new challenge, so although I was a little emotional, I don't think it was the wrong decision."

(Around what age did you first encounter soccer?)
"I first encountered soccer when I was five years old. The most memorable experience was the 1998 World Cup held in France. I remember watching it with my family. That was my most memorable encounter with soccer."

(Who was your idol as a boy?)
"It's Henrik Larsson. We're in similar situations, or rather, our fathers are of African descent and our mothers are Swedish, so I watched Larsson the most."

(Sweden is a country that has produced world-renowned strikers such as Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimović, but what kind of image did they have when they embarked on their path to becoming professional football players?)
"Like other kids, I always dreamed of playing for the national team. That was my goal. Luckily, I was able to reach this point without pressure and while enjoying the process. I've had some amazing experiences, like playing alongside Zlatan. I'm incredibly happy to have come this far."

(Besides soccer, what else are you looking forward to in Japan?)
"First, I want to experience Japanese culture. Everyone is kind and polite, and the city is beautiful, so I feel very welcome. I want to visit many different places. However, I'm focused on soccer, so my wife will probably be my tour guide."

(I think his name is pronounced Isaac Kjöse Thelin in Swedish, but he refers to himself as Isaac, perhaps because he was often called Isaac while moving around to different countries?)
"I think it's fine if you call me whatever is easiest for you. Because when I was in France, I was called Isaac, in English-speaking countries I was called Isaac, and in Abu Dhabi I was called Itzhak, so any way of calling me is fine. I'd like you to call me whatever is easiest for you, and I'll adjust to that."

(A major issue for the Reds is that they play good football in the first half, but then their intensity drops in the second half, and they get caught up to or even lose the lead. Isaac probably wants to start Trial, but do you have an image of making a decisive contribution or helping the team when you come on as a substitute?)
"I've talked to the manager about that. When I come on as a substitute, I want to make use of my experience, for example, by keeping possession of the ball and using the time effectively. I want to learn and improve my experience through Trial, but I've heard that we tend to concede goals towards the end Trial, so I want to discuss that thoroughly with the other players and work on correcting it."

(The Reds are fighting to win the league title, but beyond that lies the AFC Champions League [ACL] Elite stage, and if they advance there, the path to the FIFA Club World Cup will open up. Did you have the ACL Elite in mind when you joined the team?)
"That was something I kept in mind, and it was a factor that led to one of my decisions. I've heard that the club wants to win the ACL Elite, and I imagined how great it would be if I could be a part of that. But right now, I want to take it one Trial at a Trial, keep my feet firmly on the ground, prepare for the next Trial, and do my best."







[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]