MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Regional League Ground Matchday 5 vs. Mito Hollyhock [MATCH PARTNER RDC] Trial comments

"The first few minutes of the first half were a bit chaotic, and I think Mito had the upper hand during that time. They applied a very difficult-to-break-through gegenpressing, and we lost possession of the ball several times in Zone 1, giving away a lot of set pieces."

However, after about 20 or 25 minutes, our play improved, and we gained more control of the game. We were also able to switch sides more effectively, which led to our first goal. I think it was a goal that came from a very good movement.

However, overall, the first half was quite exhausting and difficult for us. I think our defensive midfielders, such as Kaito Yasui, Kai Shibato, and Ryoma Watanabe, were particularly exhausted from the high press today.

Nevertheless, we didn't change our defensive approach in the second half. And I think we had even better control of the game in the second half. In our Zone 1, the opponent didn't create any dangerous situations like in the first half. And we earned a penalty kick from a very good play, resulting in an opponent having a player sent off. However, although we had an advantage, we may not have been able to capitalize on it to the fullest.

However, I am very pleased with the substitute players. The goal itself started with Shoya Nakajima's press back, and came from a pass from Junpei Hayakawa to Toshikazu Teruuchi who was making a Toshikazu Teruuchi run. Teru's diagonal run was similar to Takuro Kaneko's when he won the penalty kick. It's an important movement for our wingers.

Overall, I think we did a good job as a team in the second half. We suffered a painful defeat against Kashima Antlers in the previous match, so this victory is very welcome. It confirms that we are moving in the right direction."

[Questions and Answers]
(Compared to previous games, the ball is now going into the center of the attacking zone more often. Was this due to a deliberate effort to utilize the center, or was it the players' own decision?)
"We talked about using the half-space on the opposite side when switching sides. The first goal came from that. Today, when we entered Zone 3, we were conscious of the space on the opposite side."

I didn't give specific instructions like, "Let's use the inside more," or "Let's use the outside more," but we talked about creating space gaps by moving around. I also mentioned the importance of doing a lot of rotations in Zone 3."

(Toshikazu Teruuchi, who scored the goal, has been getting more playing time this year, but what are your thoughts on his development and evaluation?)
"He has grown significantly since the preseason camp. He was the top scorer in the practice Trial during the camp. He can play as a striker, but given the current state of the team, he is more needed as a winger."

(Renji Hidano has shown excellent finishing skills so far, but what do you think he brings to the Reds right now? Also, I think he could have been left on a bit longer, so what are your thoughts on the substitution at that point in the game?)
"Regarding Renji (Hidano), we had to be somewhat cautious. He's not yet able to play for 90 minutes. He might have been able to if we had let him, but we avoided taking unnecessary risks. As an important member of the team, I think he did a good job scoring an important goal."

(Today, perhaps due to the opponent's playing style, I didn't cover as much distance, and I think I played Trial more slowly than usual. What areas do you think I need to improve from here?)
"We are trying to increase the amount of fast, vertical play like the first goal we scored against Kashima. Coaches Maesako (Masato) and Ikeda (Nobuyasu) have been preparing drills for that kind of play, and I think the team is making progress."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]