On the 11th, manager Maciej Skorza held an online press conference, where he spoke about his enthusiasm for the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 29 match against Gamba Osaka, which will be held at Panasonic Stadium Suita on (Sat) the 13th.

(There are now 10 Trial left this season. Unfortunately, the cup matches have been cancelled, so you will be concentrating on the league. What is the team's condition ahead of the Gamba OSAKA match, and what is the situation of the players who were unable to play in the YBC Levain Cup for medical or physical reasons?)
"First of all, we have had some difficult days since our last Trial. It is a difficult situation for us that we cannot continue competing in the Emperor's Cup and the Levain Cup. As you said, we have 10 league Trial left, and we would like to devote all our resources to them and fight with full concentration. I have spoken to the team, but we would like to avoid simple mistakes, especially in the final stages of Trial, and earn as many points as possible. After our tough loss, we have been trying to create an atmosphere in the lead-up to the Gamba match as if we were fighting in a final. I believe our goal is achievable and we can move up Standings.

Regarding our players, first of all, (Matheus) Savio will be suspended for the match against Gamba. It's good news for us that Ryoma Watanabe is close to returning. Samuel Gustafson is also fit to play. The players have been training with a great attitude over the past week, and I can see them getting back up and fighting again, so I think we can aim for three points against Gamba.

Another positive thing is that Kai Shibato 's injury is not too serious, he took part in practice today and is ready for the next Trial."

Looking at the remaining schedule, many of the matches against higher-ranked teams are home games. On the other hand, as was the case with this match against Gamba OSAKA, the key may be how many away games you can win, which is not your forte. What are your thoughts on this?
"We have Trial away Trial left and so far the results have been far from what we expected. If we want to achieve our goal, we need to change the dynamics of our away games. In the match against Gamba, we want to maintain a good performance from the referee's whistle to the final whistle. As you say, I think Trial like the one against Gamba will have an impact on our final Pos."

(In the second match of the YBC Levain Cup against Kawasaki Frontale, Shusaku Nishikawa made a costly mistake. He is an experienced player, so I think he will be able to recover, but how does Coach Maciej view a goalkeeper making challenging plays? Has he still decided to leave it to him until the end?)
"I think mistakes are bound to happen when building up from Zone 1. We gave feedback on the Kawasaki match and discussed how we should avoid those kinds of mistakes. I hope that this will be the last time we concede a goal in that way this season. Shusaku is a great goalkeeper with a great personality and a lot of experience, so I think he will be a strong point for the team until the end of this season."

(What is your impression of Gamba OSAKA?)
"Gamba is a very offensive team, scoring eight goals in the last two Trial. However, they have also conceded six goals, so that is also important information for us. I think Coach (Daniel) Poyatos is a very offensive player, but he has made some changes to their defensive style this season, particularly in the wings. However, I think Gamba is first thinking about how to score goals. They have the ability to build up plays from the defensive line. For example, (Fukuoka) Shota is one such player. (Handa) Riku and (Hatsuse) Ryo, who recently joined, are also offensive fullbacks. However, I think Gamba's greatest strengths are their two wingers and (Usami) Takashi. I think that will be a key point in the next Trial as well."

(In the second match of the YBC Levain Cup against Kawasaki, there was a period when you used a two-top formation with Isaac Kiese Thelin and Hiiro Komori, and I got the impression that Komori moved around Isaac hygienically and maintained a good balance. Are you considering using a two-top formation in the future?)
"We tried a two-man attack in training before the last Trial and we thought it worked, so I think it will be an option going forward and we might use it against Gamba."

(We haven't won any away games this season, but do you remember two years ago, when we had 10 Trial left, and it was a long 10 Trial because of the AFC Champions League, but we hadn't lost any away games?)
"I honestly didn't remember, but it's very positive news."

(In the remaining 10 league Trial in 2023, when Maciej took over, they lost two games but still managed to earn 16 points.)
"I remember the home game against (Vissel) Kobe was painful. There were situations that the VAR (Video Assisted Referee) couldn't check."

When Maciej took over as manager again, he reflected on the fact that the team was tired towards the end of the season two years ago, and attributed this to the summer training. What are your thoughts on this?
"Comparing this season with 2023, I think the summer went better this season. One thing I made a bit of a mistake this season was the week of training leading up to the match against Kashiwa (Reysol). I think I put too much strain on the team by trying to train every aspect of the team. That's the impression I have of the summer, but as a manager, summer in Japan is not my favorite time of year. Even if I try to make adjustments to the team, there is very limited time to do so."

(There have been seven seasons since the J1 League reverted to a one-season system, and in the remaining 10 Trial since then, the Reds have had a win rate of about 40%, a loss rate of just over 30%, and a draw rate of around 30%, for a total of 4 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses. What pace do you hope to achieve in the remaining 10 Trial this season?)
"Honestly, I've stopped thinking in that direction. I'm trying to take each Trial one at a time. I've said this before, but I want the team to always focus on the next step, the next Trial. I think this year's J.League season is very unique. With 10 Trial left, many teams still have a chance of winning the title. We're now approaching the time when the favorites to win will participate in the ACL (AFC Champions League). I think that could affect Pos, so I'm trying not to think too far ahead and to get the team to focus on each Trial one at Trial. Of course, I'm aware that after the Gamba game we have a game against Kashima (Antlers) and then two difficult away games, but when I speak to the team I want them to focus on the next game."

(The away game is not your forte, but your opponent is Gamba Osaka, a team that Coach Maciej has a good record of winning 5 and losing 1 in 6 games. What are your thoughts on this?)
"We lost to Gamba in our last home game in May, and we have also won away Trial with 10 men. However, I remember that all of Trial against Gamba, especially away games, have been tough, and I expect that to be the Trial."

(After the Reds took part in the FIFA Club World Cup, the Japanese national team took part in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship, but Reds players were not selected due to their physical condition and schedule. No Reds players were selected for Japan's upcoming US tour either, so what do you think about the hopes and possibilities for Reds players to be selected for the FIFA World Cup squad?)
"It would be a great honour if a Reds player were to become a member of the national team. There are some interesting players on the Reds, and I have seen the national team manager watching Reds Trial on many occasions. I hope that in the near future the Reds will show good enough condition and performance that some of them will go on to play for the national team."

(I asked the same question in 2023, but how motivated is Maciej to send players from his club to the national team?)
"I am highly motivated by this. When a player is selected for the national team, it is usually when the team is doing well, and it is proof that the player is doing a good job and growing within that environment, so I always think about it in a positive way."

Japan national team manager Hajime Moriyasu said that the Reds' participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, along with the information his staff gained from visiting the site, was extremely helpful to the Japan national team, who shared the experience and information they gained with the team and held discussions. What do you think is the significance of the Reds being able to share the experience and information they have cultivated with the Japan national team?
"I know that the Reds staff are in close contact with the Japan national team staff, and if there is any information that the Japan national team needs, we are always ready to share it."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]