NEWS
Genki Haraguchi: "I want to show that there are such great clubs in Japan"
On the 13th (Japan time), just before the start of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Genki Haraguchi was interviewed online and answered questions from the media.
(You mentioned that adjusting to the time difference was difficult. Did you feel the time difference from Japan to the U.S. was different from Europe?)
) "I found it a little harder than going back and forth to Europe. I thought I was used to the 16-hour time difference and thought I would be able to adjust quickly, but surprisingly it took me 3 or 4 days, so I thought it was a very wise decision for Reds to enter the U.S. early.
(Did the conversation among the players change as the first match approached?)
(CA) The word 'Liber Plate' is getting used more and more, and we are having more conversations about what we are going to do in more concrete terms. As (Maciej Skorza) coach said, we are preparing as if the first game is everything, so our focus right now is completely on the match against Liber Plate."
(I think you can judge what is important and what to do in a tournament like this based on your experience at the FIFA World Cup for each country.)
What will be the most important point? "Simply put, we have to understand that we are the ones who have to create surprises against a superior opponent, but what we have to do is to do what the opponent doesn't want us to do. We must continue to do that for at least the first 45 minutes of the first half, and then look for an opportunity to win in the second half. It would be good if we could score the first goal in the first half, but I think the most important thing is to keep doing what the opponent doesn't want us to do in order to beat a strong opponent and cause a surprise.
(This will be the second time for you to participate in a tournament with the World Cup name attached to it. Is there any difference in mental attitude or impression between participating in a world tournament with the national team and with a club team?)
One thing I think is that it is more difficult than playing in the World Cup with the national team. Statistically speaking, many of the Club World Cup finals have been played between South America and Europe, and although I have not researched everything, I feel that there are few tournaments where clubs from other continents can cause an upset, so I feel that it is more difficult to cause a surprise than in the World Cup. I feel that it is a tournament where it is difficult to surprise more than the World Cup. I feel that it is a tournament where it is difficult to cause a surprise more than the World Cup. I feel that we have to prepare more than that, and we cannot cause a surprise unless we prepare really well and fight well.
(Focusing on Haraguchi's mind, is there any difference in his feelings between the FIFA World Cup, in which only Japanese nationality players compete, and the FIFA Club World Cup, in which Urawa Reds they compete?)
'It may not be much different. There are a few foreign players, but I really feel like they are my friends, so I don't feel there is much difference between playing for Japan and representing Japan on Urawa Reds".
(I know it is a very big tournament, but is there any difference from the FIFA World Cup in terms of the environment, for example, do you have a police vehicle when you go to training, hotel rating, food, etc.?)
'I think during the World Cup in Russia (2018 FIFA World Cup) there was a lot of attention on the country as a whole. There was a bit more of a festive mood, or you could sense from the moment you arrived in Russia that the World Cup was coming to the country as a whole, but now I think it's a bit quieter, maybe partly because there is no Trial in Portland. But now it is a little bit quieter, maybe due to the fact that we don't have the in Portland, but I don't think there is a big difference in the environment.
(What is the team doing about the 8-second rule, where the goalkeeper can hold the ball in his hand for 8 seconds instead of 6 seconds, and if the time exceeds 8 seconds, the Trial will restart with a corner kick by the opponent?)
(What are you doing as a team to address the 8-second rule?) "We are discussing it thoroughly, but I think there are many tactical things we cannot say.
(There are good and bad aspects to the 8-second rule, but what do you think Haraguchi should keep in mind?)
(What are the good and bad aspects of the 8-second rule, and what does Haraguchi want to keep in mind? If we are winning, I would like to use the time, but there are times when that is not possible, and in the opposite case it would be to our advantage, so I don't think it is something to worry about so much.
(How does Haraguchi feel about the grass on the practice field, which he felt was quite deep?)
(How does Haraguchi feel about it?) "The grass is somewhat different from that in Japan. Trial (How does Haraguchi feel?) "The grass is somewhat different from Japan. It was difficult to get used to it for a few days because it is different from Europe, but we are not playing in a stadium, and I don't think it makes much sense to get used to the practice field. It took us a few days to get used to it because the ball is different, and I think it is a big advantage for us to have arrived in the U.S. early in many aspects.
(Did you have an image of the ball stopping?)
(Did you have an image of the ball stopping?) "The ball also stops and is light, so I had the impression that the players had a hard time controlling it.
(What do you hope to convey to the entire team in order to win this tournament?)
(What does Haraguchi himself want to send out to the entire team in order to win this tournament? It may be a neat thing to say, but I would like to communicate how we can win as Japanese, as representatives of a Japanese club, so that we can go head-to-head with a strong club without losing our name, and first of all, so that we can go in with that kind of mentality, so that we don't lose our name.
(When I asked you about Liber Plate at Ohara Training Ground, you said you didn't know much about them yet, but could you give us an impression of their opponents, their strong points, players we should be wary of, and anything else?)
I think they are an aggressive team, a club that seems to be thinking about attacking about 7-3. The overall level of each individual player is very high, and the final line and goalkeeper are all Argentine national team members, and they have a 17-year-old super-talented player. However, because of that, I think they are a team that will leave openings in their defense, so if we defend well as usual, do what we do, and exploit those openings, I think we will have a chance.
(Do you think Reds can win the game if they can eliminate the opponent's strong points based on their defense and aim for a shot?)
(Do you think Reds will be able to win the game if they can use their defense as a base and eliminate their opponent's strong points while aiming for a single shot? There are various countermeasures, and we are trying to be specific about where to attack, but I can't talk about that. If we talk about details, I think we may do things differently from our J-League opponents.
(You said before that you have little experience playing against South American teams, they have skill on their feet and have strong points such as being able to control and not lose the ball even when the pitch is bad, but how will Reds go about it?)
It is easy to say that we will be confident, but I think it is important not to be surprised at such a first-impact kind of time when we get to Trial and they are stronger than we thought they would be or have more technical ability than we thought they would have. If we can overcome that, I think we will be able to have a gradual phase, and I personally think that will be the key.
(Some of the players you will face in MD2 have played against Inter in the group stage before, what are your impressions of them?)
(What are your impressions of these players?) "There are four or five players who have played in the Bundesliga. I have the memory that all the players were of a fairly high level."
(Is there any player who left a particular impression on you?)
(Are there any players in particular that stand out?) "(Markus) Thuram, (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan, and Jan Zomer have left an impression on me.
(Is there something you can tell your other teammates because you have experienced playing against such opponents?)
I think there are many things I need to tell them, mainly from a mental point of view, and we have talked about it in the preparation stage, but I think it is also important in the short term to know how to switch from one team to another when Trial starts, during Trial, or maybe even after Trial. I will always think about what I can do, and I will do what I can do through 3 Trial to make sure we get through to the group stage.
(What kind of tournament do you want this FIFA Club World Cup to be for Haraguchi personally?)
(What kind of tournament do you personally want this FIFA Club World Cup to be?) "In terms of realistic goals, if we get through the difficult group stage and we finish second and (Borussia) Dortmund finish first in their group, we can play against them. I have that kind of feeling. As I said before, I want to get through the group stage. My personal goal is to get a point in order to do so. I think that is my major goal.
(Now that you mention goals, the man who scored a goal in the FIFA World Cup among Urawa Reds players is Haraguchi. I think it was a different view for you. Do you talk about that with your teammates?)
I do talk about it, and I have shared many of my experiences with my teammates, so if they ask me about it, I will talk about it. I don't think it's something I have to go out of my way to talk about, so I do talk about it when I am asked.
(When you score a goal, you attract a lot of attention from people around you.)
(Do you think about that?) "When talking about Genki Haraguchi, that World Cup goal inevitably comes up as a highlight for me. But it is also true that he was unable to leave a greater impact after that, and I have talked about how frustrating that was for me in some media. So, I don't want to compete with that in this tournament, but I would like to score a goal that will make a new impact for Genki Haraguchi like that.
(As a man who knows the world, do you feel that there are players, including foreign players, who you think will surprise the world at Urawa Reds?)
(As a man who knows the world, do you have any players, including foreign players, who you think will surprise the world at ? If we can surprise them as a team, I think some of them will make an impact."
(Under the new 8-second rule, if the opposing team doesn't get it right, it will be a corner kick, but this year Urawa Reds there have been a lot of goals from set pieces in the J-League, and I look forward to Masato Maesako seeing what the coaches have in mind, is that happening more?)
Pts I think there are a lot of set-piece goals in the big games. I feel that Coach Maesako has done a great job throughout the J-League. I think it is one of the key points, because I think there is a real possibility to get through the group stage with just one of them.
(Dortmund's name was also mentioned, but Lieber Plate is said to be the No. 1 team in the world in terms of attendance. I think Dortmund is number two, but the best attendance in Japan is Urawa Reds. I know you have daily thoughts about your fans/supporters, but if you could say a few words about them, please)
I think they are truly world-class fans and supporters. I have played soccer for many different clubs in many different places, but I think they are the best fans and supporters I have ever had, and I am sure they will fight with us in the U.S., so I hope we can fight together and surprise them together, and show them what a wonderful club they have in Japan. I would be very happy if we could show that there is such a great club in Japan so that we can fight together and create a surprise together.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
(You mentioned that adjusting to the time difference was difficult. Did you feel the time difference from Japan to the U.S. was different from Europe?)
) "I found it a little harder than going back and forth to Europe. I thought I was used to the 16-hour time difference and thought I would be able to adjust quickly, but surprisingly it took me 3 or 4 days, so I thought it was a very wise decision for Reds to enter the U.S. early.
(Did the conversation among the players change as the first match approached?)
(CA) The word 'Liber Plate' is getting used more and more, and we are having more conversations about what we are going to do in more concrete terms. As (Maciej Skorza) coach said, we are preparing as if the first game is everything, so our focus right now is completely on the match against Liber Plate."
(I think you can judge what is important and what to do in a tournament like this based on your experience at the FIFA World Cup for each country.)
What will be the most important point? "Simply put, we have to understand that we are the ones who have to create surprises against a superior opponent, but what we have to do is to do what the opponent doesn't want us to do. We must continue to do that for at least the first 45 minutes of the first half, and then look for an opportunity to win in the second half. It would be good if we could score the first goal in the first half, but I think the most important thing is to keep doing what the opponent doesn't want us to do in order to beat a strong opponent and cause a surprise.
(This will be the second time for you to participate in a tournament with the World Cup name attached to it. Is there any difference in mental attitude or impression between participating in a world tournament with the national team and with a club team?)
One thing I think is that it is more difficult than playing in the World Cup with the national team. Statistically speaking, many of the Club World Cup finals have been played between South America and Europe, and although I have not researched everything, I feel that there are few tournaments where clubs from other continents can cause an upset, so I feel that it is more difficult to cause a surprise than in the World Cup. I feel that it is a tournament where it is difficult to surprise more than the World Cup. I feel that it is a tournament where it is difficult to cause a surprise more than the World Cup. I feel that we have to prepare more than that, and we cannot cause a surprise unless we prepare really well and fight well.
(Focusing on Haraguchi's mind, is there any difference in his feelings between the FIFA World Cup, in which only Japanese nationality players compete, and the FIFA Club World Cup, in which Urawa Reds they compete?)
'It may not be much different. There are a few foreign players, but I really feel like they are my friends, so I don't feel there is much difference between playing for Japan and representing Japan on Urawa Reds".
(I know it is a very big tournament, but is there any difference from the FIFA World Cup in terms of the environment, for example, do you have a police vehicle when you go to training, hotel rating, food, etc.?)
'I think during the World Cup in Russia (2018 FIFA World Cup) there was a lot of attention on the country as a whole. There was a bit more of a festive mood, or you could sense from the moment you arrived in Russia that the World Cup was coming to the country as a whole, but now I think it's a bit quieter, maybe partly because there is no Trial in Portland. But now it is a little bit quieter, maybe due to the fact that we don't have the in Portland, but I don't think there is a big difference in the environment.
(What is the team doing about the 8-second rule, where the goalkeeper can hold the ball in his hand for 8 seconds instead of 6 seconds, and if the time exceeds 8 seconds, the Trial will restart with a corner kick by the opponent?)
(What are you doing as a team to address the 8-second rule?) "We are discussing it thoroughly, but I think there are many tactical things we cannot say.
(There are good and bad aspects to the 8-second rule, but what do you think Haraguchi should keep in mind?)
(What are the good and bad aspects of the 8-second rule, and what does Haraguchi want to keep in mind? If we are winning, I would like to use the time, but there are times when that is not possible, and in the opposite case it would be to our advantage, so I don't think it is something to worry about so much.
(How does Haraguchi feel about the grass on the practice field, which he felt was quite deep?)
(How does Haraguchi feel about it?) "The grass is somewhat different from that in Japan. Trial (How does Haraguchi feel?) "The grass is somewhat different from Japan. It was difficult to get used to it for a few days because it is different from Europe, but we are not playing in a stadium, and I don't think it makes much sense to get used to the practice field. It took us a few days to get used to it because the ball is different, and I think it is a big advantage for us to have arrived in the U.S. early in many aspects.
(Did you have an image of the ball stopping?)
(Did you have an image of the ball stopping?) "The ball also stops and is light, so I had the impression that the players had a hard time controlling it.
(What do you hope to convey to the entire team in order to win this tournament?)
(What does Haraguchi himself want to send out to the entire team in order to win this tournament? It may be a neat thing to say, but I would like to communicate how we can win as Japanese, as representatives of a Japanese club, so that we can go head-to-head with a strong club without losing our name, and first of all, so that we can go in with that kind of mentality, so that we don't lose our name.
(When I asked you about Liber Plate at Ohara Training Ground, you said you didn't know much about them yet, but could you give us an impression of their opponents, their strong points, players we should be wary of, and anything else?)
I think they are an aggressive team, a club that seems to be thinking about attacking about 7-3. The overall level of each individual player is very high, and the final line and goalkeeper are all Argentine national team members, and they have a 17-year-old super-talented player. However, because of that, I think they are a team that will leave openings in their defense, so if we defend well as usual, do what we do, and exploit those openings, I think we will have a chance.
(Do you think Reds can win the game if they can eliminate the opponent's strong points based on their defense and aim for a shot?)
(Do you think Reds will be able to win the game if they can use their defense as a base and eliminate their opponent's strong points while aiming for a single shot? There are various countermeasures, and we are trying to be specific about where to attack, but I can't talk about that. If we talk about details, I think we may do things differently from our J-League opponents.
(You said before that you have little experience playing against South American teams, they have skill on their feet and have strong points such as being able to control and not lose the ball even when the pitch is bad, but how will Reds go about it?)
It is easy to say that we will be confident, but I think it is important not to be surprised at such a first-impact kind of time when we get to Trial and they are stronger than we thought they would be or have more technical ability than we thought they would have. If we can overcome that, I think we will be able to have a gradual phase, and I personally think that will be the key.
(Some of the players you will face in MD2 have played against Inter in the group stage before, what are your impressions of them?)
(What are your impressions of these players?) "There are four or five players who have played in the Bundesliga. I have the memory that all the players were of a fairly high level."
(Is there any player who left a particular impression on you?)
(Are there any players in particular that stand out?) "(Markus) Thuram, (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan, and Jan Zomer have left an impression on me.
(Is there something you can tell your other teammates because you have experienced playing against such opponents?)
I think there are many things I need to tell them, mainly from a mental point of view, and we have talked about it in the preparation stage, but I think it is also important in the short term to know how to switch from one team to another when Trial starts, during Trial, or maybe even after Trial. I will always think about what I can do, and I will do what I can do through 3 Trial to make sure we get through to the group stage.
(What kind of tournament do you want this FIFA Club World Cup to be for Haraguchi personally?)
(What kind of tournament do you personally want this FIFA Club World Cup to be?) "In terms of realistic goals, if we get through the difficult group stage and we finish second and (Borussia) Dortmund finish first in their group, we can play against them. I have that kind of feeling. As I said before, I want to get through the group stage. My personal goal is to get a point in order to do so. I think that is my major goal.
(Now that you mention goals, the man who scored a goal in the FIFA World Cup among Urawa Reds players is Haraguchi. I think it was a different view for you. Do you talk about that with your teammates?)
I do talk about it, and I have shared many of my experiences with my teammates, so if they ask me about it, I will talk about it. I don't think it's something I have to go out of my way to talk about, so I do talk about it when I am asked.
(When you score a goal, you attract a lot of attention from people around you.)
(Do you think about that?) "When talking about Genki Haraguchi, that World Cup goal inevitably comes up as a highlight for me. But it is also true that he was unable to leave a greater impact after that, and I have talked about how frustrating that was for me in some media. So, I don't want to compete with that in this tournament, but I would like to score a goal that will make a new impact for Genki Haraguchi like that.
(As a man who knows the world, do you feel that there are players, including foreign players, who you think will surprise the world at Urawa Reds?)
(As a man who knows the world, do you have any players, including foreign players, who you think will surprise the world at ? If we can surprise them as a team, I think some of them will make an impact."
(Under the new 8-second rule, if the opposing team doesn't get it right, it will be a corner kick, but this year Urawa Reds there have been a lot of goals from set pieces in the J-League, and I look forward to Masato Maesako seeing what the coaches have in mind, is that happening more?)
Pts I think there are a lot of set-piece goals in the big games. I feel that Coach Maesako has done a great job throughout the J-League. I think it is one of the key points, because I think there is a real possibility to get through the group stage with just one of them.
(Dortmund's name was also mentioned, but Lieber Plate is said to be the No. 1 team in the world in terms of attendance. I think Dortmund is number two, but the best attendance in Japan is Urawa Reds. I know you have daily thoughts about your fans/supporters, but if you could say a few words about them, please)
I think they are truly world-class fans and supporters. I have played soccer for many different clubs in many different places, but I think they are the best fans and supporters I have ever had, and I am sure they will fight with us in the U.S., so I hope we can fight together and surprise them together, and show them what a wonderful club they have in Japan. I would be very happy if we could show that there is such a great club in Japan so that we can fight together and create a surprise together.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]