MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Regional League Ground Matchday 13 vs. Kawasaki Frontale [MATCH PARTNER Meiji Yasuda] Post-Trial comments

"I think we were able to execute our plan from the start Trial. In the first half, ideally, I would have liked to score a goal. In the second half, we scored one goal from a set piece, and then the substitute players added another, so as a team, we decided to sit back to some extent, and since we know that's Kawasaki's strength, we kept telling the players to stay compact. In the end, I'm glad we were able to win 2-0."

[Questions and Answers]
(April 29th was the day you made your J.League debut at the National Stadium 25 years ago. What are your thoughts on taking charge for the first time as manager of Urawa Reds on the same day 25 years later?)
"I think this has become a new anniversary."

(Given the limited time before Trial, what points did you emphasize and organize beforehand?)
"In terms of attacking play, we have a rotation system for positions that we always use, and I told them to continue that while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper positioning."

(Regarding mental health, what was the one thing you emphasized as being particularly important?)
"Both mentally and defensively, what I told them was, 'Press in a way that gives courage to your teammates.' Mentally, it was 'Don't be afraid to take a step forward.' I repeatedly emphasized that to the players when it came to defense."

(I think Yoichi Naganuma was positioned wide on the left wing, and players like Shoya Nakajima were drifting to the right wing, creating a good numerical advantage on the flanks. What aspects did you, as a coach, instill in your players to score goals?)
"Having spent the last few months with the players, I knew they had individual strengths and ideas in front of goal. Regarding the opponent's attacking area, I only told them to 'bring out your strengths.' What I focused on was communicating to the players how to consistently get the ball into the mid-range, and as a result, I think the number of attacks increased and that quality was showcased."

(Towards the end of the match, there was a period when Kawasaki was pressing hard. Given that we've conceded many goals after the 70th minute in previous Trial, this was a test for us. How were you trying to lead the team during that time?)
"We anticipated this situation. With only one day between matches, instead of spending time figuring out where to pass the ball and to what location, as I mentioned earlier, I told the players that when a back pass is made, the forwards should give courage to the players around them, showing them that 'it's okay to press together.' I also told the side midfielders that they could play as wingbacks, and the players chose to do so."

(I think today's match was the slowest attacking Trial we've played in the last year or two. What did you tell the players about the tempo of the attack?)
"I usually tell the players that they should only pass to teammates after they've been properly pressured themselves, rather than making unnecessary passes. The goal isn't just to have possession of the ball, as I mentioned earlier, but to consistently get into the mid-range. So to do that, I instructed the players on how to position themselves to maintain stable possession in their own half."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]