Perhaps the constant thirst is because it can never be satisfied. Whether it's recorded in numbers or assigned figures, the self that Ryoma Watanabe envisions is far beyond his reach.

In their J1 League opening match against Gamba Osaka, played away from home, the team faced a tough situation, including a red card in the 22nd minute. However, their attitude, which allowed them to turn the score around at one point, gives us hope for the future.
"We had to play for nearly 70 minutes under unusual circumstances, but I think we were able to do what we set out to do, regardless of the number of players on the pitch. I'm not going to make any excuses and say we could have won if we had 11 players, but I think we were able to show the first step of doing what we need to do as a team, whether it's 11 or 10 players. More than anything, I think it's important for the team to continue doing this, so we want to keep going."

Starting in the second line of a 4-1-2-3 formation, the number 13 player took on the role of attacking midfielder alone when the team shifted to a three-man defense in the second half with them trailing 1-2. He appeared on both the right and left sides, running to get into pockets, and in the 78th minute he created an opening. Running from the center to the right wing, he received a vertical pass from Danilo Boza. Calmly looking around, he saw Takuro Kaneko running into the penalty area, and delivered a cross with his right foot, assisting a diving header goal.

Three minutes later, in the 80th minute, he created another chance, this time from the left side. Receiving a diagonal pass from substitute Yoichi Naganuma, he turned forward and again ran to get into the opponent's pocket. Dribbling deep to the goal line, he sent a final pass with the outside of his right foot to Harumi Minamino who was waiting near the goal.
Beyond his two assists, his play and work rate embodied the style of football the team aims for this season. He recorded the highest total distance covered by both teams combined at 12.4km, and his 17 sprints were second only to Yuta Miyamoto 's 18. He literally compensated for the team's struggle to play with 10 men for much of the game with his running ability, demonstrating a determination to win until the very end.

However, Urawa Reds ultimately lost their opening match 3-4 after conceding goals in the 84th and 86th minutes. He must be feeling very disappointed that he couldn't lead his team to victory. When asked about his own performance, he was critical.
"There were many more attacking opportunities we could have created, and many more, but I only managed two assists. I think that even if I had played poorly that day (against Gamba OSAKA), I would have still managed two assists, so considering that, I think my performance was at least the minimum acceptable level. That's why I feel I need to work even harder in practice and keep doing it."

He's always been critical of himself, but the reason he was filled with regret was because he was so upset about not being able to score, especially with his shot towards the end of the first half and his header from Kaneko's cross in the 71st minute.
"Looking back on my performance, I feel that I really wanted to score a goal, and I also think I could have done much more in terms of creating chances, so I feel that my performance was unsatisfactory."

On the day training resumed after Gamba OSAKA match, the attackers stayed behind to practice shooting after the team's main practice session. When Minamino scored a spectacular goal, he loudly called out "Harumi!", praising his teammate. This scene showed the very essence of a leader who wore the captain's armband during the J1 100-Year Vision League and is determined to lead the team as part of the captain group this season as well.
On the other hand, when it came to finishing a shot, he was determined to get it right, clenching his fists in celebration as if it were a real match when Trial, and showing genuine disappointment when he missed, which clearly showed how much he cares about this season.

As he was about to conclude a special season in which he wore the captain's armband and fought for Urawa Reds, a team he had admired since childhood, he said that he felt he had grown a lot, and added, "I learned so much from being captain."
"That doesn't mean I want people to think I've mellowed out as a player."

Just because I can now see the whole team from a broader perspective doesn't mean I want to lose the individual quirks and imperfections. That's why—

"Even if there are times during Trial when I seem to disappear from the game, I think I need to constantly be conscious of the need to produce results. It's not about turning small chances into big ones, but I want to keep doing that and make sure I score."

Wearing the captain's armband not only taught me to think about things from a team perspective, but also broadened my perspective to include the club as a whole. Just as I imprint the expressions of the fans and supporters on my mind and heart after Trial, I had many thoughts and feelings when I saw the applause we received despite losing Trial against Gamba OSAKA.
"Winning and losing are important. That said, I don't think we've ever received applause in Trial we've lost before, so I think people were able to feel our fighting spirit and our desire to win, even just a little. So many people came to the away game, and that's why we want to show them what we've got with a good result next time."

In the home opener against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, what he aims for is the individual strength that can be seen as a thorn in the side.
Playing in a position closer to the goal this season, he's determined to make the most of every single shot, every single opportunity, and prove himself. He's always striving for more, always looking beyond what he's satisfied with.

(Interview and text by Daisuke Harada)