Q: Last season, I think you made the decision to go inside on your own, but this season, are you given specific instructions on how to play depending on the opponent's position?
A: It's not that everything is strictly patterned; they respect the ideas we come up with ourselves. What we've been told is that if Adailton is in front of me, we should avoid overlapping vertically. For example, if I am open, then Adailton moves inside, or vice versa—just to make sure we don't overlap.
Q: So, we are being told not to overlap in the same lane, right?
A: Yes, that's right. We are often told not to overlap in terms of player spacing and lanes.
Q: If we follow the principles, can we then proceed with our own judgment and expand rapidly?
A: Especially in front of the goal or when we are pressing forward, we are told to break down the defense using our own ideas. We also find it easier that way; if we are too constrained by a set pattern, I think we won’t be able to respond well when things don’t go as planned, so we are allowed to play freely in that regard.
Q: Although it is still early, are there patterns that are increasing as you continue to play?
A: I fully understand the coach’s message. However, we also realize that we are still far from the ideal style that Albert PUIG ORTONEDA envisions. The coach says it’s not a style of soccer that can be achieved easily, and we ourselves feel the same. That said, if we make sure not to overlap lanes and maintain good spacing between players, I believe skillful plays and combinations will naturally emerge.
Q: Are practice matches also scheduled in Itoman, and is this where we can see how well or not well we can do against J.League clubs?
A: I think there are many things that can only be understood through matches, and I don’t expect everything to go perfectly. I believe there are more things that don’t go well than those that do, but even so, if we improve every time an issue arises, I think we will be able to play really good soccer and become a good team.
Q: Did your perception of care change due to last season's injury?
A: Last season, I rarely had the trainer check me or give me massages, but since getting injured, I have been thoroughly checked and treated even during this camp. I have also started to be more diligent with stretching before and after practice on my own.
Q: Do you feel any changes or influences in your approach to your own body and your own play?
A: Since I hadn't been injured much since turning professional, the period when I was injured really made me think a lot. I don't let fear of injury make me play timidly, but overall I have more preparations to do, so I think I can enter my play smoothly.
Q: With the addition of Nagatomo and the participation of Kashif BANGNAGANDE, who played as a right-back, did you also play as a right-back? Do you still want to compete on the left side this season?
A: Since I had hardly ever played on the right side before, it was a completely new feeling and I really enjoyed it. However, I still have a strong desire to aim higher on the left side, and this season I strongly want to play on the left side. When I played on the right side, I often took positions more inside, so I think that experience is being utilized on the left side this season.
Q: Will you be watching tonight's match of the Japan national team (1/28)?
A: Yes, I will watch. I try to watch both national team matches and other soccer games.
Q: Last season, you joined the national team and became a member of what Coach Moriyasu calls the "large group." Please tell us about your mindset as you aim to recover from your injury and strive for that.
A: As a soccer player, I believe I should aim for the Japan national team, and that is also my goal. Since there is the World Cup this season, I want to be conscious of returning to the Japan national team and work towards that.
Q: When playing as a right full-back, how did you balance the use of your right and left foot?
A: When I was on the right side, there were situations where I had to open up and use my right foot, but my strength lies in playing with my left foot. So, I positioned myself more inside to make use of that and tried to play in a way that maximized my left foot as much as possible.
Q: I think this year there will be more opportunities to play inside depending on the situation. Can't the experience of last season be applied at that time?
A: Playing inside doesn’t feel particularly restrictive to me, so I think I can play naturally within the flow of the game, and I believe I can make use of the experience I gained playing on the right side last season.
Q: Coach Albert, it was said that he would entrust the final scene even if he asked for the movement of the basic lane, but maybe it was at the stage of putting in the base, and it was different from what I did in Niigata for two seasons because there were drawers. Do you feel that what you are trying to do is likely to develop further in the future?
A: Even during practice, I think we have come to understand the style of football the coach wants to play. However, the current situation is that we have not yet been able to embody it. When we can play the football the coach envisions, I believe we will have grown as individual football players, and as a team, we will have become a very complete and strong team.
Q: I think this applies to both Tokyo and the Japanese national team, but there is also a discussion that formations are only starting positions even on a global scale, and once the kickoff is done, they become irrelevant. However, I feel that as the team improves, formations become less important. Do you have any insights on this?
A: Just as Coach Albert says the final moments are free, the positioning when I move inside is the same. Although I play as a full-back, I also have roles similar to a defensive midfielder, and there are times when that defensive midfielder makes forward runs behind the defense. If we stick rigidly to positional roles, it becomes easier for the opponent to defend, so I hope that in the final attacking moments, we can break down the defense fluidly without being too constrained by positional boundaries.
Q: In the past four seasons, I think you have learned from the former coach Hasegawa about solid defense and fast attack. What are you looking forward to in working on a different style under coach Albert?
A: I feel like I can improve as a soccer player, or rather, I can really develop my ball control skills.
Q: There was a discussion about lanes and positions, but in this football, the full-backs are often required to be playmakers and have many roles. How do you feel about that?
A: The positioning of the full-back is highly demanded. We are also instructed on how to receive the ball and carry it openly. Since many attacks start from the full-back, I feel that if I don't take the helm there, the team won't function well.
Q: On the other hand, what are the important aspects in defense and risk management that you are conscious of because you play an attacking style of football?
A: Rather than retreating and defending by dropping back, our approach is to keep possession of the ball and not allow the opponent to attack. So, I think we aim to immediately regain the ball up front right after losing it and make it ours again. We have been working on the transition between offense and defense and high pressing from the front since last season, but the way we apply the press is different now. We are adjusting this on the pitch while aligning with what the coach says. Basically, I think the idea of pressing from the front remains unchanged.
Q: Even when watching practice, I think Coach Albert is conscious of switching, tempo, and speed. Is it required for both offense and defense?
A: It’s the same with the attack, but we are often told about pressing when switching to defense, and we focus on winning the ball back from the opponent at that moment.
Q: Morishige has become the captain starting this season. What is your mindset in supporting Morishige, whom you admire?
A: Does that person really need support? (laughs) I don't think he needs support to the extent that I have to provide it. He has been a captain before, and in my mind, Morishige has been the captain since my first year, so that image is strong. The vice-captain Diego TABA is the same, but not only the captain—each player, although not necessarily with captaincy, wants to play with a strong sense of responsibility in their own way.
Q: Regarding Morishige's motivation to engage in soccer, he was talking about it. Is Ogawa also approaching training with enthusiasm, including him?
A: I think the players also feel refreshed with the new style of soccer, and the training menu changes as well. There are many difficult aspects, but I believe each individual can truly feel their growth within that.
Q, With this new style of soccer, I think the key will be the new players. What are your impressions of players like Kimoto and Henrique in the defense line?
A: Kimoto is originally a player with good ball control, and I think he will fit well into Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's style of soccer. As for Henrique, since there are many Brazilian players on the team, Diego TABA and Leandro have welcomed him into the group. Being left-footed, I think his position will be close to mine, and I believe we have quite good communication there.
Q: There are also many new young players joining the team. How are the senior players who welcome them?
A: There are few mid-level players in Tokyo and many young players, so I want them to play without hesitation, and I think it's fine for them to be aggressive enough to challenge the senior players. I also think it would be good if they came on strong right from the training camp.
Q: With Nagatomo also present, I think I won't be able to play in the game as a left back unless I win the position battle. What do you think about that?
A, Basically, I am aiming for the Japan national team, and since Nagatomo is the left back for the Japan national team, I think it’s ultimately the same. I believe that if I don’t win there, I will never be able to join the Japan national team no matter how much time passes.
Q: Do you have any awareness of the Club World Cup at the end of this year?
A: It would be a lie to say I’m not conscious of it, and my desire to play in the World Cup is very strong. I think this year is a chance, and it will be an important year to take the position.
【Coverage】
