Post-match comments from MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Round 7 Trial against Kashiwa Reysol

"In the first half, we applied high pressure with high intensity, and I think that was effective. There may not have been any obvious chances, but there were instances where we won the ball back in the opponent's half and (Matheus) Savio and (Kaneko) Takuro took shots around the penalty area. Also, Shibato (Kai) had a chance from a corner kick."

Kashiwa has a good number of attacking players and is a team with good build-up play. There were times when they pressed us, won the ball back, and their shots hit the post.

A few days ago we had a physically tough Trial against Tokyo Verdy, but at halftime I instructed us to "keep up the high press." We created a chance early in the second half, and a goal was scored. Besides the goal, there were one or two other clear scoring opportunities.

However, as time went on, we began to pay the price for our high press. I think that as we got more tired, Kashiwa's possession rate increased. They created several chances as a result. That's when we brought in fresh players like Renji (Hidano) and Taka (Takahiro Sekine). However, we couldn't keep possession of the ball when we were attacking. It became especially difficult once we entered Zone 3.

I think the game became quite chaotic once we got past the halfway point of the second half. And there were also moments where we saw some good defensive plays in dangerous situations. It was a very intense Trial, with both teams fighting to win. We weren't able to win, but I think the players' hard work was very positive."

[Questions and Answers]
(It was disappointing that the home team, the Reds, managed to hold on for the win in the final stages. What do you think was needed to change the course of the game?)
"The end of the second half was the most difficult part, but I think we didn't have many opportunities to keep possession for a long time in the first half. As I told the players in the feedback session after Tokyo Verdy match, in a flow where there are many quick changes of direction, it's okay to take some time to keep possession without getting impatient."

There were times when we were able to maintain possession by switching sides and using the half-spaces, but after applying high pressure or making a series of transitions, our stamina is depleted, so I think we need to intentionally take possession of the ball to recover. We will work on that in our training."

(In the first half, Ado Onaiwu 's ball retention in the attacking third was effective, but when it came time to substitute him, I imagine you considered bringing on Isaac Kiese Thelin, who can do something similar, or Renji Hidano, who can make runs behind the defense. What was your decision on that?)
"At the start, we aimed to use (Onaiwu) Ado's speed and skills to keep possession of the ball in the attacking third. Then, like Ado, we brought in Renji, who has a great ability to get behind the defense. However, things didn't go as I had anticipated, so we moved Renji to the right and brought in Isaac (Kise Thelin)."

Today, I decided against using a two-striker formation because I was thinking about defense. If I used two strikers, I wouldn't be able to execute the defensive plan I had in place in the lower middle block. And while Isaac can also keep possession of the ball, he's a slightly different type of player, and he often receives the ball with his back to the opponent's goal.

For Renji, who started on the bench for the first time this season, I think it was a good experience. Starting from the bench was an unusual situation, and he played in two different positions. By seeing that, he was able to see areas that he needs to train harder on."

(This year's team's strength lies in its fast, vertical attacks, but I think it's leaning too much towards that, making it difficult to push forward even when you want to maintain possession. How do you plan to balance those two aspects?)
"That's exactly what I think needs improvement. In situations where we should be keeping possession by switching sides in the higher zones 2 and 3, we sometimes get impatient and launch attacks instead. Of course, the moment we win the ball back from the opponent, we demand quick vertical play. However, even when transitioning, if we can't launch a quick counter-attack, we need to keep possession."

(When I lose, it's because my power has decreased, but right now, am I stuck because I'm trying to create something, or am I just at a dead end?)
"This season, we've changed our defensive approach, and today was our seventh Trial using it. We've made mistakes in that process. Of course, there are risks involved in changing our approach. We decided to make that change after playing last season and considering the trends in Europe."

And I don't think that the team is unable to perform because it has reached its limits. And with players like Samuel (Gustafsson) and (Matsuo) Yusuke waiting, I believe Ado will continue to improve, and I think Renji is also getting better with Trial he plays as he gains experience. In the future, I want to show the fans and supporters Trial that will satisfy them."

(Although her name wasn't mentioned, is it unlikely that Hiiro Komori will be able to return this season?)
"Regarding Hiiro Komori, we started the season with the understanding that he might not play. That's why I didn't mention his name earlier. He's a striker with great finishing ability and can bring a lot to the team offensively, so we feel the impact of his absence."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]