Post-match comments for the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 29 Trial Gamba Osaka

"The game started off a little chaotically, but after a few minutes, I think Gamba Osaka were the more dangerous team. However, I think we started to get control of the game from around the 20th minute of the first half. We were able to control the game by changing sides and using the half spaces. That led to Takahiro Sekine 's chance.

In the second half, we replaced our striker with Yusuke Matsuo, aiming to exploit more of the space behind the defense and take advantage of his ability to get behind the defense. I think we were in control for most of the second half. We had some dangerous shots, but we didn't create many clear scoring chances. We also tried to create chances with a two-man attack, but the coordination between Isaac (Kise Thelin) and the other players in our pressured zone three may not have been good enough.

I think the players kept trying until the end. Today, too, we conceded a goal towards the end of Trial with 10 minutes left. I think it was a great shot by the opponent.

We were trying to push forward and create chances, and then there was the moment when Tomoaki Okubo was brought down (in the penalty area). I think it was a situation that could be debated, but the referee's decision had already been made.

With this result, everyone in the Reds' locker room is dejected. The players were highly motivated and came here to win the Trial. However, we were unable to score today, and were unable to secure Trial victory, which has resulted in us falling further behind in points than at the end of the previous match.

[Question and Answer Session]
(Today's Trial was more about wanting to win than not wanting to lose, but what about the substitutions you made to win?)
"As I mentioned earlier, we started the second half by bringing in a runner-type player to try to use the space behind us. (Matsuo) Yusuke has played well as a number 9 (striker) in the past.

Then, when the intensity of the midfield began to wane, I used Ryoma Watanabe for the first time in a while. He was fresh and hungry to Trial. He had been away from Trial for about two months, but I was still tempted to use him as he is still our top scorer.

Samuel (Gustavsson) is also returning from an illness, but we didn't expect him to last the full 90 minutes, and he received a yellow card, so we brought on Kai Shibato to try and stabilize the midfield. We also tried to create a target up front by bringing on Isaac. We played Yusuke and Isaac as the two strikers, and moved Ryoma (Watanabe) to the left.

Matsuo and Watanabe were switching positions while playing. Finally, as Takuro Kaneko's physical strength was declining, we brought on Okubo. We had him cut in and move inside to get the ball to Isaac."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]