MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Regional League Round 17 vs. FC Tokyo [MATCH PARTNER BizReach] Post-Trial comments

"Both teams were controlling possession from the start of the first half, and at the beginning, they had a lot of possession and there were times when we were pushed back a bit, but after that, we were able to maintain possession ourselves, and I felt that we just needed to create more decisive chances."

In the second half, the opponent's individual players posed a significant threat, and they created several chances. However, today we had discussed defending against their individual players as a group. Specifically, I think the players did a very good job with pressing back and sliding. Of course, they had chances, but I think that's an area where we can improve in the future.

Nishikawa (Shusaku) made some great saves in the penalty shootout. Just because it's a penalty shootout doesn't mean we can afford to lose, so I hope we can work on that next week as well."

[Questions and Answers]
(You made two substitutions at halftime today. What were the issues you felt were lacking in the first half that led to those substitutions?)
"The two players who were substituted in the first half did a very good job. At home, it was 0-0, and as I mentioned earlier, there were times when we were able to have possession, but I was looking for something more, something to add to the attack."

In terms of defense, I've always said that the players on the flanks and one of the two strikers should accept being at a numerical disadvantage and focus on defense, so I didn't want to lower the intensity there. That's why I made the substitutions early."

(Regarding the pre-penalty shootout process, such as deciding the order of the penalties, what kind of guidance do you give to the team as a coach?)
"I discussed it with the staff, and it was decided not just by me, but as a team."

(You've only conceded one goal in the five Trial since taking charge, but I'd like to hear more about today's defense.)
"Passes to the center were something we didn't want to concede, but in the second half, there were times when the defense became stretched out, and they managed to get through and create several chances. As I mentioned earlier, that's something we need to work on next, but the fact that we managed to keep a clean sheet against FC Tokyo, a team with high intensity and fast transitions, gives us confidence, although there are definitely things we need to improve."

(It seemed like Samuel Gustafson was talking quite a bit about defense when he came onto the pitch.)
"The most crucial aspect is keeping the team compact. I explained things like the speed of pressing back from that position and how to narrow the gap when the ball is on the opposite side, but I didn't tell Sam (Samuel Gustafson) about the attacking aspects. However, I think he probably understands that. I brought him on because we wanted to score a goal at that time."

(When Ado Onaiwu was substituted for Hiiro Komori, the left and right sides remained the same, but when Jumpei Hayakawa and Yusuke Matsuo were substituted, the left and right sides were switched with Komori. Was this due to the dominant foot of each player or their preference for playing, or was it also done with the opponent in mind?)
"The most important thing is the attack. We're focusing on that when positioning. That's a formation we always practice in training. I want Matsuo to play at the forefront, and (Komori) Hiyori can create opportunities beforehand, and after creating opportunities, he has the fluidity to go forward, so we're not too particular about which side he plays on. There is a problem with height."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]