NEWS
Iwao: “It will change if each and every one of us has the will to create history.”
On the 15th, after the second round of the J League YBC Levain Cup Prime Stage Semi-Finals against Yokohama F･Marinos, Ken Iwao, who wore the captain's armband in place of the suspended Hiroki Sakai Sakai, talked about his state of mind heading into this match and the value of victory. He talked about what he felt from the atmosphere of the team, fans and supporters.
(How do you feel now that you have decided to advance to the finals?)
“I think I was able to show a little bit of my value as a member of Urawa Reds.”
(Did I feel more fighting spirit than usual from Iwao's play today?)
“Last year, we lost in the semi-finals, and this year too we went into the second game with a 0-1 deficit in the first game, but (Sakai) Hiroki was not able to play.One minute before that red card, I stopped the counter. Partly because of that, I ended up in that situation, so I considered whether or not I could wear the captain's armband and move on to the next stage to be a very important thing in my life. did"
(I think there were many plays where you not only simply handled the pass, but calmly counterattacked and changed the situation even when the opponent was putting pressure on you. Was that something you were conscious of?)
“I was completely exhausted, but I think I was able to play in a good zone mentally and physically. In the sense of a mental zone.”
(I think the team as a whole outperformed Yokohama F･Marinos, not only in terms of results but also in terms of content, but what do you think they did well as a team?)
``I think this club is demanding very high things, including the results we are expected to achieve and the quality of each individual's performance, and if we can't meet those expectations, I think this is a club that will be weeded out.'' .I thought that if I didn't achieve great results as an individual and as a team, I wouldn't be able to advance to the future, including my own position.In that sense, there were scenes where I could have been defeated. I think it was good for us as a team to be able to move on in this difficult situation. However, we just earned a ticket to the finals, so I think it's the same whether we came in second or lower, so the next step will be very important. I think everyone knows that it's important for today. However, I'm really tired today, so I'm going to stop thinking about the future (lol)."
(Winning the YBC Levain Cup title is one thing, but won't the way they win today lead to future struggles, including the J1 League?)
“What we were talking about before the game was that someone had to find the back of the net, not just Jose (Kante), but today we had two penalties. I think this is a positive thing, and I think their attitude from the first half was very good, with various players overtaking them and moving into the penalty area.However, the quality of the crosses and where the players entered were really good. That being said, we need to sort things out a little more, and I think we can still improve on the moves that are scary for the opponent.I think it's commendable that we've made it that far, but other than penalty kicks, we've scored 1, 2, and 3 points. I think that quality is absolutely necessary when you want to win.The result was good, and I think there is a lot we can learn from this result, so we will continue to improve through practice and improve ourselves. I want to work on getting better.”
(What was the atmosphere like at the stadium and among the fans and supporters after the end of the first game and throughout today's game?)
``If we can clearly demonstrate our quality and technical skills, as well as our attitude and mentality, our fans and supporters will support us, and we want to create a space where we can create a mutually beneficial effect. I think the atmosphere in the stadium pulled victory towards us today, so the atmosphere, the spirit that we are going to make history, and the feeling that we are the Reds. I think the way we play will change if each of us has the will to play soccer and wow the world.If the way we play changes, I think the organization will change, and the organization will change. I think the results will change if we can win the match in front of us and win the title, and of course I want to win it, but if we can approach it with a bigger concept in mind, we can improve our individual strength and quality. They are a high-caliber team to begin with, so I think that will be a factor in them being able to demonstrate their maximum potential.In that sense, I felt the spirit of the whole team today.The fact that we were 0-1 in the first game and Hiroki not being able to play also helped. I think we had the power to approach the game with the mindset of winning overall and somehow making it to the finals, including what coach Maciej (Scorja) said in the locker room.''
Other comments and match photos can be viewed on the site members.
■Click here for site members (330 yen per month/tax included) → https://sp.urawa-reds.co.jp/
*REX CLUB LOYALTY members can use it for free.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
(How do you feel now that you have decided to advance to the finals?)
“I think I was able to show a little bit of my value as a member of Urawa Reds.”
(Did I feel more fighting spirit than usual from Iwao's play today?)
“Last year, we lost in the semi-finals, and this year too we went into the second game with a 0-1 deficit in the first game, but (Sakai) Hiroki was not able to play.One minute before that red card, I stopped the counter. Partly because of that, I ended up in that situation, so I considered whether or not I could wear the captain's armband and move on to the next stage to be a very important thing in my life. did"
(I think there were many plays where you not only simply handled the pass, but calmly counterattacked and changed the situation even when the opponent was putting pressure on you. Was that something you were conscious of?)
“I was completely exhausted, but I think I was able to play in a good zone mentally and physically. In the sense of a mental zone.”
(I think the team as a whole outperformed Yokohama F･Marinos, not only in terms of results but also in terms of content, but what do you think they did well as a team?)
``I think this club is demanding very high things, including the results we are expected to achieve and the quality of each individual's performance, and if we can't meet those expectations, I think this is a club that will be weeded out.'' .I thought that if I didn't achieve great results as an individual and as a team, I wouldn't be able to advance to the future, including my own position.In that sense, there were scenes where I could have been defeated. I think it was good for us as a team to be able to move on in this difficult situation. However, we just earned a ticket to the finals, so I think it's the same whether we came in second or lower, so the next step will be very important. I think everyone knows that it's important for today. However, I'm really tired today, so I'm going to stop thinking about the future (lol)."
(Winning the YBC Levain Cup title is one thing, but won't the way they win today lead to future struggles, including the J1 League?)
“What we were talking about before the game was that someone had to find the back of the net, not just Jose (Kante), but today we had two penalties. I think this is a positive thing, and I think their attitude from the first half was very good, with various players overtaking them and moving into the penalty area.However, the quality of the crosses and where the players entered were really good. That being said, we need to sort things out a little more, and I think we can still improve on the moves that are scary for the opponent.I think it's commendable that we've made it that far, but other than penalty kicks, we've scored 1, 2, and 3 points. I think that quality is absolutely necessary when you want to win.The result was good, and I think there is a lot we can learn from this result, so we will continue to improve through practice and improve ourselves. I want to work on getting better.”
(What was the atmosphere like at the stadium and among the fans and supporters after the end of the first game and throughout today's game?)
``If we can clearly demonstrate our quality and technical skills, as well as our attitude and mentality, our fans and supporters will support us, and we want to create a space where we can create a mutually beneficial effect. I think the atmosphere in the stadium pulled victory towards us today, so the atmosphere, the spirit that we are going to make history, and the feeling that we are the Reds. I think the way we play will change if each of us has the will to play soccer and wow the world.If the way we play changes, I think the organization will change, and the organization will change. I think the results will change if we can win the match in front of us and win the title, and of course I want to win it, but if we can approach it with a bigger concept in mind, we can improve our individual strength and quality. They are a high-caliber team to begin with, so I think that will be a factor in them being able to demonstrate their maximum potential.In that sense, I felt the spirit of the whole team today.The fact that we were 0-1 in the first game and Hiroki not being able to play also helped. I think we had the power to approach the game with the mindset of winning overall and somehow making it to the finals, including what coach Maciej (Scorja) said in the locker room.''
Other comments and match photos can be viewed on the site members.
■Click here for site members (330 yen per month/tax included) → https://sp.urawa-reds.co.jp/
*REX CLUB LOYALTY members can use it for free.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
