As the warm autumn breeze blew, the tricolor flags fluttered in the wind at Nissan Stadium, and loud chants echoed throughout. What remains vividly etched in my memory is the sight of Urawa Reds fans and supporters, who were gathered in a corner behind the goal, in complete silence. Kenta Nemoto, a second-year university graduate, vows to erase the nightmare of the crushing defeat on October 18, 2025, ahead of the match against Yokohama F･Marinos on February 21.

"We'll get our revenge twofold. We absolutely cannot let Trial like that happen again. We'll keep a clean sheet and come home victorious."

His powerful words carry a special meaning. Suddenly, memories of the past come flooding back. Early in the match, he tripped over the long grass near his own penalty area and unexpectedly lost possession. In the 6th minute, he conceded the opening goal due to his own mistake, and conceded four goals in the first half alone. On that day, when he experienced humiliation as a center back, he told himself these words in the somber atmosphere of the interview zone.

"If I were to be crushed by something like this, I wouldn't be able to continue. I will reflect on this properly and move forward."

True to his word, his rookie year's failures proved to be a valuable lesson. This season, he has been a regular starter since the opening match. He creates opportunities with his characteristic courageous build-up play and supports the attack. Even when pressured by opponents, he doesn't panic. He calmly distributes the ball to the midfield and forwards, using a combination of short and long passes. Yet, he still feels he's not quite there yet.

"I haven't been able to show my strengths much lately, so I'd like to start using them soon."

This is a diagonal pass from the left-center of the backline to the right side. It's a strong point that he's honed over many years. Even during his junior youth days at JEF United Ichihara Chiba, when he didn't get much playing Trial, he was confident in his left-footed kicks. At the time, he often played as a left-back, and he developed it as his unique strength. He's very particular about it, but he's also been studying his opponents. This season, when Nemoto has the ball in the backline, the opposing full-backs drop back to close the space.

"I know they're analyzing me, but that doesn't matter to me. I just want to keep putting my ideas out there."

True skill comes from opponents taking countermeasures against you. In the previous match against FC Tokyo, I was inspired by seeing Inamura Hayato, another left-footed center back, making one long pass after another even though he was being closely watched.

"He was a player with the exact same characteristics as me. I don't think I'm inferior to him, and I'm enjoying the fact that I'm feeling that way more and more right now."

He has deepened his coordination with right-sided midfielders Takuro Kaneko and Rio Nitta, and is reconfirming passing lanes and timing. There is bound to be an opening to exploit. Of course, he is not relying solely on passes across the pitch. He is also skilled at vertical passes, which he calls "stabbing passes," and can place them precisely at the feet of the forwards. If Isaac Kiese Thelin, who excels at hold-up play, is in the front line against Yokohama F. Marinos Marinos, there may be more instances of him driving in through balls. Furthermore, he is adept at dropping the ball perfectly behind the opponent's last line of defense. He also has in mind a way to get new signing Renji Hidano running into the box. Keep an eye on the passes coming from the left foot of the number 5 player.

However, the most important thing required of a center back is solid defense, and Nemoto himself understands this better than anyone. He has no intention of losing in aerial duels, which is his strong point, and he will do his best to contain opposing forwards. Starting this new season, he will be partnered with Yuta Miyamoto, who is also his senior from Ryutsu Keizai University, and they will be communicating closely with each other.

"We've improved a lot since starting camp, but we're still not perfect. I think there are areas where we can improve."

Line control is key to their defense. While Miyamoto is basically in charge, the key is how well they can push forward at the right time in coordination with their partner. Coaching is crucial. Nemoto is using his senior teammate next to him as a role model and is actively speaking up.

"If we don't communicate from the back, it becomes difficult for the players up front to press. We need to be clear about whether we should press now or not. If we can win the ball up front, it will definitely create a chance. We want to continue doing that."

In the match FC Tokyo, there was improvement compared to the opening match against Chiba. The pressing from the front was effective, and the number of times they won the ball back in the opponent's half increased, especially in the second half. It wasn't just that the transition between attack and defense was quick. The smooth switching between man-to-man marking and zone marking was a big improvement. Even in the later stages of the game, they showed a willingness to take risks and go after the opponent. In 2026, the keyword will be "forward" rather than "waiting." They intend to fully embody this, even at the Nissan Stadium, a place with which they have a long history.

"I want to play Trial that's the complete opposite of that one, one where the fans and supporters all stand up in the stands. It's a good opportunity to play against the same opponent this week. But I'm not going to overthink things; I'm just going to do what I need to do."

The 23-year-old, entering his second year as a professional, spoke with remarkable composure. He was determined to prove that both Nemoto and the Reds had transformed over the past four months, overwriting any unpleasant memories of Yokohama.

(Interview and text by Masayuki Sugizono)