NEWS
Comment from Yuki Abe's press conference after his retirement match
Yuuki Abe's comments at the post-game press conference after his retirement match
Yuki Abe
I really believe that many people involved with Urawa Reds have supported us in preparing for this match, and I would like to express my gratitude to all of them. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude. Thank you very much. And my biggest wish was 'please don't rain,' so I am glad that we were able to play today's game in good weather and warm weather.
In my long soccer career, I have asked members of my generation, seniors and juniors alike, who I felt like kicking the ball with and chasing the ball at the end, to join me this time, and many of them were able to participate. I can only express my gratitude for having such a group of members. I am also glad that so many fans and supporters were able to come to the event and see not only my own performance, but also the heroic performances of my friends who have been fighting together with me. I myself enjoyed the match, and I would be happy if anyone who saw it could think, even just a little, that I had a good time. Thank you very much.
[Q&A session
(Looking at today's match from front to back, it seemed to me that it was a game that looked back on the history of the Japanese national team and Japanese soccer.)
It was very difficult. There were worries about what to do with the team members, but we thought long and hard about it, and the actual kicking of the ball brought back a lot of memories for me. The first half in the blue uniform reminded me of when I played for the national team, and the second half in the Reds' red uniform was really nostalgic because I was playing with members who had fought together with Reds for a long time. There were players who made me think, 'Oh, I used to play like this,' or 'I can still do this,' and I had a lot of fun while playing with them. Thank you very much."
(You also played with your children, and there was a scene at the end of the game where you passed the ball around as a family?)
(You played with your children and had a family passing scene at the end of the game.) "I was really happy to be able to stand on the same pitch with them, and I don't think it would have been possible if I hadn't continued working until the last minute. I am very happy that I was able to play with them while I was able to stay physically active because I had been active for a long time until last year, so it was a very good memory for me. I would be very happy if they can make the most of it in the future.
(It was great that you headed a pass from Yushin Abe at the end, but what about the CK you missed before that?)
(What did you think about the CK you missed before that? "Everyone said to me, 'You have to score that one' (laughs). (Laughs.) That was a position where I used to score a lot when I was active, so I had to at least get it off the frame. So I am glad that I managed to make the final decision.
(When you took a group photo of the entire team after the event, did you take a group photo by grade?)
) "We were grouped into juniors, junior youth, and youth. I am currently a coach at the academy, and this time I had the support of the academy players. I wanted to give something back to them, and I am sorry that it took so long for the players who participated in the retirement game, but I wanted to provide a place where they could feel something memorable or stimulating, so I asked them if I could take a group photo at the end of the game. I asked them to let me take a group photo at the end of the event.
(Did you propose the exhibition match between Urawa Reds Youth and JEF Chiba U-18 before the game?)
(Did you propose the match between Reds and JEF Chiba U-18?) "I didn't expect to be allowed to play the exhibition match, but thanks to the efforts of many people, we were able to have the match between Reds and JEF. I played soccer at JEF Youth and am currently teaching the youth age group at Urawa Reds. I am sorry that it was an exhibition match and the game time was a little short, but I am glad that those two teams were able to play at Saitama Stadium.
(Looking at the members of both teams, I got the impression that this was a retirement match with many members of the same generation. I felt that you have built a bond between the same generation in your soccer career?)
I wanted to play today's game with players who are close in age and who I have worked with. I myself thought that this would be the last time I would be able to play soccer at Saitama Stadium like this, and I wanted to play with the members who had fought together on such occasions. I am very happy that we were able to work together. Many people participated, some of them were on tight schedules, and they even changed their schedules to come, so I can only express my gratitude to them.
("It seemed like a retirement match for Reds players that not only fans and supporters of Urawa Reds but also fans and supporters of JEF Chiba were there, not only applauding but also booing a little, and everyone ended up enjoying the day.)
I don't think I'm the type of person who can do that, so I think it's great that players like Masayuki Okano and Tulio Tanaka can bring excitement to the stadium. Even after their retirement, I felt again that it is amazing that they could bring such excitement to the stadium with their play and humanity. Even while playing, I saw many scenes that made me smile, so I enjoyed myself.
(I believe that Mr. Abe's cheering song was played many times from the stands today.)
(What did you remember or feel when you heard the cheering song?) "I have been playing with Urawa Reds for a long time and have played with that cheering song in my back. I also felt that I had worked hard in the games, not to get this cheering. I was overwhelmed to hear them cheering in front of me today, and I felt again that they were sending me so much power. I can no longer repay them as a player, but I hope to repay them in a different way.
(What about being able to let your sons hear those cheers on the same pitch?)
(What about being able to let your sons hear those cheers on the same pitch?) "By hearing those cheers and feeling that kind of atmosphere, I don't mean that I have to work harder, but I hope that they will have a goal to be on a pitch like this if they work hard too. I think they really enjoyed themselves, and I think they were able to sense the fun of soccer and the difficulty of playing in such an environment.
(This time, many of the participants had fought together in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will start soon. What are the important things to keep in mind and what do you hope to do in order to win against strong teams such as Germany and Spain, from your senior's point of view?)
I think a lot of people really expect a lot from us, so I think preparation is still important to meet those expectations. There are three games in the group stage, but the first game is everything. If we can win the first game, the way we approach the next game will change. I think many people understand that if we can get a point in the first game, it will be a different story, and if we don't, it will be a tough situation. It is the World Cup stage, and of course results are important, but I want the players to show what they have. I think everyone wants to show what they can do. If I can do that with the mindset that I am doing it for the team, rather than just saying "me, me, me," I think the results will come. I want you to fight with confidence, and I believe that the sight of you fighting with confidence will give power to many people, so I hope you will do your best.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)
Yuki Abe
I really believe that many people involved with Urawa Reds have supported us in preparing for this match, and I would like to express my gratitude to all of them. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude. Thank you very much. And my biggest wish was 'please don't rain,' so I am glad that we were able to play today's game in good weather and warm weather.
In my long soccer career, I have asked members of my generation, seniors and juniors alike, who I felt like kicking the ball with and chasing the ball at the end, to join me this time, and many of them were able to participate. I can only express my gratitude for having such a group of members. I am also glad that so many fans and supporters were able to come to the event and see not only my own performance, but also the heroic performances of my friends who have been fighting together with me. I myself enjoyed the match, and I would be happy if anyone who saw it could think, even just a little, that I had a good time. Thank you very much.
[Q&A session
(Looking at today's match from front to back, it seemed to me that it was a game that looked back on the history of the Japanese national team and Japanese soccer.)
It was very difficult. There were worries about what to do with the team members, but we thought long and hard about it, and the actual kicking of the ball brought back a lot of memories for me. The first half in the blue uniform reminded me of when I played for the national team, and the second half in the Reds' red uniform was really nostalgic because I was playing with members who had fought together with Reds for a long time. There were players who made me think, 'Oh, I used to play like this,' or 'I can still do this,' and I had a lot of fun while playing with them. Thank you very much."
(You also played with your children, and there was a scene at the end of the game where you passed the ball around as a family?)
(You played with your children and had a family passing scene at the end of the game.) "I was really happy to be able to stand on the same pitch with them, and I don't think it would have been possible if I hadn't continued working until the last minute. I am very happy that I was able to play with them while I was able to stay physically active because I had been active for a long time until last year, so it was a very good memory for me. I would be very happy if they can make the most of it in the future.
(It was great that you headed a pass from Yushin Abe at the end, but what about the CK you missed before that?)
(What did you think about the CK you missed before that? "Everyone said to me, 'You have to score that one' (laughs). (Laughs.) That was a position where I used to score a lot when I was active, so I had to at least get it off the frame. So I am glad that I managed to make the final decision.
(When you took a group photo of the entire team after the event, did you take a group photo by grade?)
) "We were grouped into juniors, junior youth, and youth. I am currently a coach at the academy, and this time I had the support of the academy players. I wanted to give something back to them, and I am sorry that it took so long for the players who participated in the retirement game, but I wanted to provide a place where they could feel something memorable or stimulating, so I asked them if I could take a group photo at the end of the game. I asked them to let me take a group photo at the end of the event.
(Did you propose the exhibition match between Urawa Reds Youth and JEF Chiba U-18 before the game?)
(Did you propose the match between Reds and JEF Chiba U-18?) "I didn't expect to be allowed to play the exhibition match, but thanks to the efforts of many people, we were able to have the match between Reds and JEF. I played soccer at JEF Youth and am currently teaching the youth age group at Urawa Reds. I am sorry that it was an exhibition match and the game time was a little short, but I am glad that those two teams were able to play at Saitama Stadium.
(Looking at the members of both teams, I got the impression that this was a retirement match with many members of the same generation. I felt that you have built a bond between the same generation in your soccer career?)
I wanted to play today's game with players who are close in age and who I have worked with. I myself thought that this would be the last time I would be able to play soccer at Saitama Stadium like this, and I wanted to play with the members who had fought together on such occasions. I am very happy that we were able to work together. Many people participated, some of them were on tight schedules, and they even changed their schedules to come, so I can only express my gratitude to them.
("It seemed like a retirement match for Reds players that not only fans and supporters of Urawa Reds but also fans and supporters of JEF Chiba were there, not only applauding but also booing a little, and everyone ended up enjoying the day.)
I don't think I'm the type of person who can do that, so I think it's great that players like Masayuki Okano and Tulio Tanaka can bring excitement to the stadium. Even after their retirement, I felt again that it is amazing that they could bring such excitement to the stadium with their play and humanity. Even while playing, I saw many scenes that made me smile, so I enjoyed myself.
(I believe that Mr. Abe's cheering song was played many times from the stands today.)
(What did you remember or feel when you heard the cheering song?) "I have been playing with Urawa Reds for a long time and have played with that cheering song in my back. I also felt that I had worked hard in the games, not to get this cheering. I was overwhelmed to hear them cheering in front of me today, and I felt again that they were sending me so much power. I can no longer repay them as a player, but I hope to repay them in a different way.
(What about being able to let your sons hear those cheers on the same pitch?)
(What about being able to let your sons hear those cheers on the same pitch?) "By hearing those cheers and feeling that kind of atmosphere, I don't mean that I have to work harder, but I hope that they will have a goal to be on a pitch like this if they work hard too. I think they really enjoyed themselves, and I think they were able to sense the fun of soccer and the difficulty of playing in such an environment.
(This time, many of the participants had fought together in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will start soon. What are the important things to keep in mind and what do you hope to do in order to win against strong teams such as Germany and Spain, from your senior's point of view?)
I think a lot of people really expect a lot from us, so I think preparation is still important to meet those expectations. There are three games in the group stage, but the first game is everything. If we can win the first game, the way we approach the next game will change. I think many people understand that if we can get a point in the first game, it will be a different story, and if we don't, it will be a tough situation. It is the World Cup stage, and of course results are important, but I want the players to show what they have. I think everyone wants to show what they can do. If I can do that with the mindset that I am doing it for the team, rather than just saying "me, me, me," I think the results will come. I want you to fight with confidence, and I believe that the sight of you fighting with confidence will give power to many people, so I hope you will do your best.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)
