NEWS
Sections 11 to 15, Announcement of the Level Up Play Award!
This season, for every five rounds of the Meiji Yasuda Life J1 League, alumni and other related parties will nominate and award three "level-up plays (plays that make you want to applaud)"!
Furthermore, from the three nominated plays, the "Best Level Up Play" will be decided based on Twitter votes from fans and supporters.
Urawa Reds official Twitter
https://twitter.com/REDSOFFICIAL
Players who are nominated will receive prize money and products from our official partner, Vitabrid Japan Inc. (https://vitabrid.co.jp/item/levelup/)! Also, the club will receive a prize every 5 matches. will receive 1 million yen in reinforcement support funds.
The person selected for Sections 11 to 15 is Tomoyuki Sakai, an alumnus.
There is a video explanation of the nominated "Level Up Play", so please watch it here.
[With explanation from Mr. Sakai! Sections 11 to 15: 3 level-up plays]
< Alexander Scholz >
“Thank you for choosing me to level up.
Both are "Scholz actions" (lol).
The first was that he was in a position to force the striker out. We could already see that our opponent was going to pass deep, so we anticipated it and started running earlier than our opponent, putting us in the perfect position to steal the ball. In this situation, of course we didn't want to take any risks, so we had two options: play the ball out or pass it to goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.
I made a split-second decision to pass Nishikawa's pass and make it my ball, but I made a small movement to the outside, letting the opponent go to the outside, and at that moment I passed the ball to Nishikawa. I put it out.
This move was designed to make the pass from Nishikawa even more of a ball. Situations like this happen frequently, 5 or 6 times per game.
The second movement is one of my favorite movements.
I didn't play much in the J League, but I played well in Europe. In Europe, we used to do this move five or six times per game. The number is increasing in Japan as well.
When there is only one opponent's forward and you know that your partner is behind you, rather than trying your best one-on-one to win or lose, avoid the play and make it your own ball. I thought that was important.
Apply your body to your opponent and push them backwards. Sometimes I flick it to the back. I want the children to learn this kind of defense technique as well."
[Player comments]
< Atsuki Ito >
“First of all, thank you for choosing us.
When the opposing player made a horizontal pass in this area of defense, I was aiming for it, and it came exactly as I expected, so I thought if I made a big first touch, I might be able to catch it.
I was able to get close to it with good distance and speed, and I was able to take it away first, and then when it got a little bigger, I reacted quickly and got off to a fast start, so I thought I might be able to get it if I slide.
I was able to take control of the ball and that was my strength, so I'm glad I was able to steal it away.
It took some time, but I calmed down and I could see that Tomo (Tomoaki Okubo) was free pretty early on.
It took me a little while to get into position to kick the ball, but the opponent's line was high and they were also dropping quite a bit, so I thought I might be able to pass the ball through, so I hit it with my left foot, but it was exactly what I was aiming for. I was able to make a good pass.
I wish this was a play that would have led to a goal, and I would have liked Kante to score the goal at the end (lol).
One of my strengths is that I move forward after stealing something, and it's something I'm conscious of, so I think this was a scene where my strengths showed in both defense and attack."
< Hiroki Sakai >
“Thank you for choosing me for Level Up Play.
I definitely didn't want to create a 3-on-2 situation that would lead to a counterattack, so I was determined to stop it even if it meant fouling. I'm glad I was able to stop the ball without fouling.
I try to take a good defensive position when my teammates are attacking.
As defenders, we are aware that our defense is starting when our teammate is attacking, so it's important to make predictions."
Level up play project by Vitabrid Japan Inc.
Click here to purchase Vitabrid Japan products
https://vitabrid.co.jp/item/levelup/
Click here to subscribe to DAZN
https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/entertainment/special/dazn.php
Furthermore, from the three nominated plays, the "Best Level Up Play" will be decided based on Twitter votes from fans and supporters.
Urawa Reds official Twitter
https://twitter.com/REDSOFFICIAL
Players who are nominated will receive prize money and products from our official partner, Vitabrid Japan Inc. (https://vitabrid.co.jp/item/levelup/)! Also, the club will receive a prize every 5 matches. will receive 1 million yen in reinforcement support funds.
The person selected for Sections 11 to 15 is Tomoyuki Sakai, an alumnus.
There is a video explanation of the nominated "Level Up Play", so please watch it here.
[With explanation from Mr. Sakai! Sections 11 to 15: 3 level-up plays]
< Alexander Scholz >
“Thank you for choosing me to level up.
Both are "Scholz actions" (lol).
The first was that he was in a position to force the striker out. We could already see that our opponent was going to pass deep, so we anticipated it and started running earlier than our opponent, putting us in the perfect position to steal the ball. In this situation, of course we didn't want to take any risks, so we had two options: play the ball out or pass it to goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.
I made a split-second decision to pass Nishikawa's pass and make it my ball, but I made a small movement to the outside, letting the opponent go to the outside, and at that moment I passed the ball to Nishikawa. I put it out.
This move was designed to make the pass from Nishikawa even more of a ball. Situations like this happen frequently, 5 or 6 times per game.
The second movement is one of my favorite movements.
I didn't play much in the J League, but I played well in Europe. In Europe, we used to do this move five or six times per game. The number is increasing in Japan as well.
When there is only one opponent's forward and you know that your partner is behind you, rather than trying your best one-on-one to win or lose, avoid the play and make it your own ball. I thought that was important.
Apply your body to your opponent and push them backwards. Sometimes I flick it to the back. I want the children to learn this kind of defense technique as well."
[Player comments]
< Atsuki Ito >
“First of all, thank you for choosing us.
When the opposing player made a horizontal pass in this area of defense, I was aiming for it, and it came exactly as I expected, so I thought if I made a big first touch, I might be able to catch it.
I was able to get close to it with good distance and speed, and I was able to take it away first, and then when it got a little bigger, I reacted quickly and got off to a fast start, so I thought I might be able to get it if I slide.
I was able to take control of the ball and that was my strength, so I'm glad I was able to steal it away.
It took some time, but I calmed down and I could see that Tomo (Tomoaki Okubo) was free pretty early on.
It took me a little while to get into position to kick the ball, but the opponent's line was high and they were also dropping quite a bit, so I thought I might be able to pass the ball through, so I hit it with my left foot, but it was exactly what I was aiming for. I was able to make a good pass.
I wish this was a play that would have led to a goal, and I would have liked Kante to score the goal at the end (lol).
One of my strengths is that I move forward after stealing something, and it's something I'm conscious of, so I think this was a scene where my strengths showed in both defense and attack."
< Hiroki Sakai >
“Thank you for choosing me for Level Up Play.
I definitely didn't want to create a 3-on-2 situation that would lead to a counterattack, so I was determined to stop it even if it meant fouling. I'm glad I was able to stop the ball without fouling.
I try to take a good defensive position when my teammates are attacking.
As defenders, we are aware that our defense is starting when our teammate is attacking, so it's important to make predictions."
Level up play project by Vitabrid Japan Inc.
Click here to purchase Vitabrid Japan products
https://vitabrid.co.jp/item/levelup/
Click here to subscribe to DAZN
https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/entertainment/special/dazn.php
