On the 5th, Per-Mathias Hoegmo held an online press conference where he spoke about his enthusiasm for the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 7 match against Sagan Tosu which will be held at Saitama Stadium on Sunday the 7th, as part of SPORTS FOR PEACE! DAY.

(Of the consecutive matches, the match against F.C.Tokyo will be a tough one, so I think the main focus will be on getting back in shape, but how do you feel you want to prepare for the match against Tosu?)
"That's why I gave the players a day off yesterday. Today we divided into two groups, with the players who played long hours in the game doing recovery sessions, and the other players doing speed sessions. We worked hard to increase the intensity of the game while practicing football, and we also worked on tactics. We had two meetings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to reflect on the game and prepare for the match against Tosu. Right now, our most important task is to focus on the next game."

(What is your impression of Tosu?)
"I think the way they press is a bit similar to F.C.Tokyo. They also have a clear method of building up the play by passing the ball through the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper is also heavily involved in that build-up. They are a team that wants to maintain possession."

(What do you want to pay attention to?)
"We're looking to improve our offense, knowing when to go in and get in on the fast break and when to take control and have the ball."

(There was talk that Hiroki Sakai Sakai would have his leg examined after the match against F.C.Tokyo. What is Sakai's condition?)
"He felt a slight sensation during the match, so we are conducting an examination, but we cannot yet reach a conclusion. We would like to take a look at him at practice tomorrow."

(In the first 30 minutes of the match against F.C.Tokyo, you came close to scoring four times, and there were times when it would not have been strange if you had scored. Thiago Santana 's shot was one in dozens of attempts, so it is not included in that number, but I think what you often say, "we were unable to score in decisive moments first," also applies to this match. What approach do you think should be taken to improve your decisiveness? Is it necessary to improve the quality of your chances? Should you approach each player and do things individually? Or is it something that the players themselves, as professionals, should solve?)
"That's a very important question. It's an area we need to improve. In the match against F.C.Tokyo, Atsuki (Ito) twice stole the ball from the opponents and carried it past two or three players. We also created one 4-on-2 situation. After that, if we can get the movement behind the defense and time the pass to that spot right, I think we can create clearer, bigger chances. For example, it was like the first goal against Shonan Bellmare. I think we can improve on various elements. There's the individual quality of the finish, but the relationship, such as how to pass to that spot, is also important. Another thing is whether we can cancel that decision and play in a different way. If we had scored the second goal in the match against F.C.Tokyo, the flow of the game would have been different, so we need to improve our final decisiveness."

(What does the football system mean to you, Coach Matthias? For example, some coaches say it's like a phone number, while others say it's where their philosophy is expressed. Coach Matthias often plays 4-3-3, and sometimes switches to double defensive midfielders, but I think you decide depending on the opponent and do what you want to do. What is that like?)
"I think words are very important. We speak to each other and then we synchronize. I call 4-3-3 a formation. In attack it's 4-3-3, and you can also press with 4-3-3. When we're playing low defense it can become 4-5-1. The name may change depending on the flow of the game, but as a rule, in terms of attacking principles we want to build up from the back. Building up doesn't just mean short passes; I think passing the ball behind with direct plays is also part of that play.

Also, in terms of attacking principle, there is a 2-on-1 formation. This is true in low positions and in the front line. We want to apply high pressure and contain the opponent with our press. Depending on the situation of the game, we may defend with a middle block or a low block. And I think that the shape will change depending on the opposing team, and it may change during the flow of the game. And I think that the appearance will be different in a game with 70% ball possession and a game with 50% ball possession. Even if the shape changes, I think the important thing is to adhere to the main principle and defend in every phase.

I think that risk can be reduced if we use long balls to the forwards. However, we are challenging ourselves to keep the ball connected. To achieve this, we are also working on the relationships between the players. And our philosophy is to control the game in every aspect.

(Should we understand that formation is a way to realize philosophy?)
"I don't think it's wrong to say that."

(During the match against Sagan Tosu on the final day of the training camp, the defensive players were talking about how much the back line could push up and support the attacking line in order to increase our scoring power, and we have confirmed this in the six matches so far, but it still feels a bit heavy. What role do you expect from the two center backs during the build-up?)
"In the build-up, the goalkeeper, centre-back and both full-backs are at the centre. There will be an anchor close to them and one of the inside halves will drop back. They will connect the ball from there, but depending on the situation, there may be times when the ball needs to be supplied to the front three, so the players up front need to be well prepared. In terms of details, the full-backs need to adjust their height and make an appearance. Also, if the centre-back can receive the ball and move towards the opponent, it will create a two-on-one situation. When the team enters the final third, one of the full-backs will move up to a high position. If the centre-back is pushing up firmly, they will be able to maintain a sense of distance and it will be easier to pick up the second ball even if the opponent clears it."

(Regarding the goalkeepers, what have you discussed with the goalkeeper coach, Juan Miret, about the current situation?)
"In the way we play football, we want the goalkeeper to take part in the attack, so I always talk about that with João, and the goalkeeper is also a central figure in the build-up play. I often talk with him, and we've also said that it would be good for the goalkeeper to take more part in the team's training."

(In the match against F.C.Tokyo, Samuel Gustafson was surrounded, and I interpreted this as the wide space around him and on both sides being used, but you explained that switching to a double defensive midfielder after the score was 1-2 was a phenomenon, but what were you thinking when you were in that situation before the score was 1-2? Also, when we conceded the first goal, Ito was unable to keep up with the ball. I don't understand why he was jogging there. Was it physically difficult for him, or was he unable to get back into position systematically? Depending on how it was handled, it could have looked like sloppy play, but Coach Matthias said he thought it could be easily corrected, but why?)
"I think part of this is about adapting to the position. Atsuki, who is used to playing as a double defensive midfielder, is going to run more as an inside half. We are also trying to increase the number of plays where he runs forward and enters the penalty area when attacking, like when he scored a goal in the training match in Okinawa. In the training match two weeks ago, he ran up and sent a great ball to Thiago (Santana), which led to a great goal for Thiago. He ran up twice in the first half and also had a shot in the second half, so I think we have a good attacking formation. I don't think there is a lazy player on this team.

If anything, I think it's important to observe your surroundings carefully and recognize dangerous situations early on. In this match, we pressed 28 times when the opposing team had the ball. We managed to steal the ball 23 of those times. I don't think it's bad that we were able to steal the ball nearly 80% of the time. I think we were in good shape in terms of going to steal the ball. And when the inside half went to apply high pressure during the game, the inside half opposite the anchor remained, so it became more like a two-man defensive midfielder formation. When applying high pressure, each player has to cover a large space. It's necessary to move dynamically and maintain balance within that.

(It's not bad for Atsuki Ito to attack, and I understand that he is a good player, but the fact remains that he was unable to get back on the defensive side. Can that be improved?)
"We did this at the last open training session as well, and the one-on-one practice has gone very well. We can talk about systems all day, but in the end it's one-on-one, so it's good defensive practice to close in on the opponent, and it's also good practice for attacking players to get past them. I want to create a culture where we practice these kinds of things thoroughly."

(You've been conceding a lot of goals since the start of the season, what do you think is the cause of that? How do you view the areas to improve in defence and the confirmation of rules?)
"There are several ways to answer that question, but one is that the players are currently in the process of adapting to a new style of football. I think it is necessary to stabilize that area. Also, since the start of the season, several key players have been absent due to injuries and have continued to return. And they are making mistakes. We need to eliminate that. Of course, as a team, I believe we need to be able to play more stable defense. However, as I said earlier, we are also trying to improve our one-on-one strength.

And I think it's that combination, but I hope we can keep the average number of goals conceded per game throughout the season to under one. We have 38 games, so I want to keep it under 35. I think we only gave the opponent two chances in the last home game, but I want to make our defense even more stable than that. The players also want to improve and get better, so I think that's a very good thing."

(Ayumu Ohata has been selected as a member of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 squad. I think you are using him as a left back and sometimes as a winger, but what are his playing strengths?)
"First of all, I am happy to have the opportunity to represent Japan with the U-23 Japan National Team. I think he is an offensive player with a variety of skills that can be used in attack. He also has a strong love for soccer, which is a great thing to watch. His speed is also a plus."

(What do you think of Ohata's attitude towards training and his personality?)
"I think it's very good. I think it's a good attitude. We introduce ourselves in our meetings, and today it was Ayumu's turn. He gave an excellent self-introduction. He is a player I'm glad to have had the opportunity to work with, and I would like to see him improve even more in the offensive aspects I mentioned earlier, as well as in his one-on-one defensive play in the penalty area."

(What did you like about Ohata's self-introduction?)
"He was a very charming person, and skillfully wove together humor and seriousness. The self-introductions were done by players and staff, and they were talking about themselves in front of around 40 people, so I think it was a new experience for many of them. It meant stepping out of their comfort zone a little and expressing themselves. Having a self-evaluation in front of such a large number of people is the same as playing in front of 40 or 50,000 people at Saitama Stadium. I think it's important to enjoy the situation and act calmly without feeling stressed. It's also in order to develop individual strength, which is necessary if you want to play for the Reds."

(Obata has been a substitute in the first five games since the start of the season, but started in the last match against F.C.Tokyo. What has improved about him so that he was selected as a starter?)
"From the Okinawa training camp until now, he has continued to grow. His physical condition has improved and he is becoming more confident. I think his one-on-one attacking skills have also improved greatly. He is a player who can penetrate into the final third. He is also good at building up the play. His strengths are improving, and we are also focusing on areas for improvement."

(After the first round of self-introductions, do they go on forever with a second and third round?)
"There are only two players left and about five staff members left. I'm thinking of having them read poetry for the second round (laughs)."

Why do you want to read poetry?
"I want to challenge the players and have them step out of their comfort zones and think and act with self-control. Training on the pitch is important, but I think these actions are also part of team building. I'm also looking forward to having the players introduce themselves to the reporters at the press conference (laughs). Please introduce three of your strengths and three areas you would like to improve. Let's start that at the post-match press conference at Saitama Stadium on Sunday (laughs)."

(I think it can be said that there are fewer goals and chances compared to the number of goals conceded, but the number of chances is increasing, and looking at the details, I think the results of training are gradually coming out in the two-on-one relationships that were not there much last year and that leave teammates free. How do you see the growth in players' relationships in attack from before you started coaching them to now?)
"I think the relationships between the players are getting better, but I believe there is still room for improvement. I think we can create more chances. In particular, I think it is necessary to continue attacking after scoring. After scoring, I think it is psychological, but I think we tend to retreat a little and become cautious. If we are leading 1-0, the opponent has to attack, so we have a greater chance to score a second goal and the next goal. I hope to see improvement in this area in the future. We are working on it in training, and I think injured players will gradually return, so I think we will get even better."

"I'm a little worried about the defense, but I'd like to see the good things about the offense at the same time."
"I'm looking forward to training hard for both of us. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Before we introduce ourselves, let's do our jobs first."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]