MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Regional League Round 14: JEF United Ichihara Chiba vs. [MATCH PARTNER: Medical Care Service] Post-Trial comments

"From the start of the first half, we were able to build up play exactly as we intended. Ultimately, we were able to score from a set piece, and as a team, we were able to finish the first half in a stable manner."

In the second half, there were times when Chiba pushed us back, but at that point, our changeup player pressed us again and scored an additional goal. Overall, I think the team was in good form and the substitutions worked well."

[Questions and Answers]
(Today's game was played after only two days of rest, and it seems like there were a lot of changes to the lineup, with captain Ryoma Watanabe being left out for the first time and Hiroki Abe making his first start. What were some of the important factors when deciding on the starting lineup, and how did you approach the game in terms of the schedule?)
"There were many factors in deciding the lineup. Of course, there was the schedule, positions, and the timing of substitutions, but since it was a game with only two days' rest and they only had one day of training beforehand, today's starting lineup was based more on what I had observed in their daily training over the past four months."

(The next game is also after a three-day break. What are the important factors you consider when deciding on the starting lineup?)
"In terms of playing ability, being strong is normal, but I also emphasized to the players in the first meeting that they should never stop running. Specifically, that means things like when they lose the ball and running hard for the team, which are fundamental things."

Ultimately, everyday Trial is different from the extraordinary, and I believe that everything about everyday life is reflected in the extraordinary, so I want to include players who can really make an impression in that setting in the team."

(Abe has been a very difficult player to work with for a long time since joining the team, but what aspects of him did you hope to see when you decided to put him in the starting lineup?)
"I believe Hiroki (Abe) is a player with a lot of ideas, so I always want to have one player like that among the 11. I told Hiroki that I wanted him to bring ideas in front of the goal and during the build-up, and today he created many close chances and also performed his defensive tasks well."

(You yourself suffered from injuries during your playing career. From that perspective, have you noticed anything about his struggles or offered any words of encouragement as he tries to shine again as a player?)
"I haven't said anything about his injury. I simply felt that I wanted to use him today based on his current performance."

(With these two consecutive wins, do you feel that the team's atmosphere, ease of leadership, and the players' mindset have changed?)
"For the players, three points are more important than anything else in terms of confidence and motivation. I don't do much myself. As I said earlier, daily routines are very important, and I judge how they do in their daily routines and send them out for today's Trial, and then I leave the rest to the players."

(Has your confidence made your daily life brighter, or has the atmosphere changed in any way?)
"They're all naturally cheerful, and they're still cheerful now."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]