2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 33 match Vissel Kobe [MATCH PARTNER DHL] Post-Trial comments

"I think we started well. We were able to recover the second ball, which Kobe is good at, and we were able to block the combinations of players up front like (Yuya) Osako, Erik, and (Taisei) Miyashiro. I also think that we were able to change sides well today. In that context, I think (Nemoto) Kenta's long balls could have been more frequent.

We lost the ball from a set piece and Kobe put pressure on us, and Ogi (Takuya Ogiwara) handled the ball, resulting in a penalty kick. However, Shu (Shusaku Nishikawa) did a great job of saving it. If that goal had gone in, it could have been a difficult Trial for us, but thanks to his save, we were able to keep the score at 0-0.

In the second half, we talked about increasing the intensity of our high pressure. We also talked about continuing the combination between (Matheus) Savio and (Kise Thelin) Isaac, and Savio delivered a great ball to Isaac, which led to a goal.

However, Kobe is a very good team, and they started to use the space on our right side, so to deal with that, we replaced Kaito (Aigo) with Kai Kai Shibato.

Kobe is a team that can score in any situation, so it was important that we didn't lose focus. In the 86th minute, we made a mistake and Koya Taiki got behind the defense and took a very dangerous shot, but Shusaku saved it again.

I think we were able to maintain tactical discipline in Trial. After a September in which we had few goals and few wins, it was great to be able to beat the defending champions, Kobe, at home. Even in such a difficult situation, the players did not give up and worked hard to earn three points.

I also think Kenta's performance was very positive. He showed us his potential, so I hope to give him more playing time this season."

[Question and Answer Session]
(Against teams that press hard like Kobe, you have sometimes used a strategy of putting a player like Yusuke Matsuo up front and letting him run behind the defense, but what was your aim in using Isaac Kiese Thelin in today's Trial?)
"There is a way to get behind the defense, but today we did something different, with Isaac acting as a target in front of the opposing defensive line. The two wingers and (Watanabe) Ryoma were then targeting the area behind the defense. We were aiming to deliver a vertical or diagonal ball there, and Kenta delivered a great ball.

Of course, as a Plan B, we had plans to use (Matsuo) Yusuke or (Komori) Hiyane as strikers and have them get behind the defense."

(Trial was Kenta Nemoto 's first start in the league, but his performance was so good that it seemed like it took a while for him to get a chance. How did you plan to use him?)
"In the period leading up to the FIFA Club World Cup, we mainly played with the experienced Marius (Hojbraten) and Danilo (Bosa). Kenta also showed great play in the YBC Levain Cup match Kawasaki Frontale. At that time, I was convinced that he could also compete in the league, and there was a possibility that he would be in the starting lineup for the match against Tokyo Verdy. We decided on Marius and Danilo at the last minute, but I'm sure he will have a chance to play in the remaining five Trial."

(Perhaps the fact that today's weather was different from the harsh summer weather contributed to the great game?)
"Yes, the difference was so noticeable that it was actually noticeable. I think everyone wants to play in temperatures and conditions like today. We are a team that wants to apply high pressure and try to win the ball as high up the field as possible, so we are grateful that the temperature has dropped, as it will help us to increase our intensity."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]