Q: We have qualified for the World Cup, but the Asian final qualifiers had a difficult start.
A, the situation and the game continued to be thrilling, but on the other hand, I found myself simply enjoying that situation.
Q: Is it because you have experience? Would it have been different if your younger self had experienced it?
If it were my younger self, I would have been overwhelmed. However, this is the 4th round of the Asian final qualifiers, so I believe that having experienced tough battles is significant. I think the way you perceive that situation is completely different depending on whether you have that experience or not.
Q: Was your experience utilized at the timing of recovering from the first loss?
A, when it comes to good times, you don't necessarily need experience and you can leave it alone, but when the team is in a difficult or challenging situation, the experience of tough battles comes into play. I think every coach needs several veterans who can bring the team together and create a positive atmosphere through their experience.
Q: As a player, Nagatomo aims to participate in the World Cup main tournament for the fourth time. Immediately after the end of the Asian final qualifiers, he commented that the J-League matches would become important.
A, that's right. If we don't produce results in Tokyo, we won't make it to the World Cup stage. That's why, when the Asian final qualifiers were over, I felt even more determined to go back to Tokyo and perform well in the J-League.
Q, I think that feeling is immediately evident in Nagatomo's play in Tokyo since his return. Although he couldn't participate in the national team's activities and camp, he seems to be quickly adjusting to the team's style while playing matches. How do you feel about the progress?
A, there is a great sense of accomplishment. Since I couldn't do a month-long camp with the team, I started from scratch in terms of the tactics the coach is looking for, the plays he expects from the fullbacks, and the coordination with the surrounding players. However, I feel that my experience is coming in handy. I have learned tactics from numerous coaches, both in the Japanese national team and in European teams, and have collaborated with many players, so I think it is definitely true that my experience has shortened the time it takes for the tactics to fit.
Q: There may not have been exactly the same tactics in the teams you have belonged to so far, but in the accumulation, are there any elements that can be pulled out and say, "This is the essence of this football" from many inspirations?
A, I have learned a lot under many coaches, and there have been many player changes in both European teams and the Japanese national team. Among them, every coach has given me the confidence to use me, and that has helped me develop my adaptability.
Q, for example, in the recent Vissel Kobe match, there was a scene where I felt Nagatomo's adaptability to tactics. In Diego OLIVEIRA's scoring scene, Nagatomo's position is imagined to be on the outermost side, but he came into the central area and flicked the pass from the midfield to connect it to a goal. Adailton moved to the outermost area and took a position inside, and it seemed that Nagatomo's movement was firmly incorporated into the team's coordination.
A, in that situation, I am very conscious of whether I should receive the ball myself or let my teammate receive it and get involved in the play as the third player, depending on the circumstances. If it were me in the past, even if Abe passed the ball to Higashi, I think I would have stayed in the position where I was initially. In that situation, I realized that I shouldn't be the one receiving the ball, so as soon as the ball went to Higashi from Shuto, I gave instructions to Higashi to pass it to Shuto. If you watch the video, you will see that I passed it to Shuto and entered the vital zone where the opponent dislikes the most. Ada was on the side and I thought there was only one player connecting with Diego, so I went to create a connection and it resulted in a goal. The final flick was a bit off, but I think it was a very successful attempt in terms of my coordination, collaboration, and connection.
The relevant scene is 5:33
Q: We have been playing consecutive matches against clubs participating in the AFC Champions League, and in the next round, we will face Urawa Reds with only 3 days of rest. Do you have any image of Urawa's football?
A, I think they are playing really good football. Last season, when we played against Urawa, I felt that Rodriguez-san is a very excellent coach, as their tactics were clearly implemented in the team and they were playing at home.
Q, it also seems like a team that can change its way of fighting flexibly while having a tactical base.
A, not only sticking to our own soccer, but also firmly considering the opponent's countermeasures, and how to make the most of ourselves. I felt that they were working on such aspects while playing the game.
Q: When playing against such opponents, there is also a desired style of football that we want to play. At the same time, flexibility as a team is also required.
The aim is to keep up with what Tokyo and the opponent dislike, so I think that if we can erase the opponent's strengths in coordination, it will lead to a solid victory.
Q: In Tokyo, there is Nagatomo on one side and Sakai Hiroki on the Urawa side, both national team fullbacks, and their matchup is attracting attention. You wouldn't want to lose when facing Sakai, right?
A, of course! I have played with Marcelo both in the Japan national team and at Marseille. We will be competing at our home ground, so there is pride and a desire not to lose. Last season, he scored a goal against me, and that was frustrating. If we were to match up, I would want to go all out on the pitch..
Q: We usually get along very well, don't we?
A, we get along very well. It's a relationship that extends to our families. However, since we are professionals, if we are opponents on the pitch, we must absolutely show the desire to not lose.
Q: I'm looking forward to the intense matchup, but in terms of Tokyo's soccer style, I think it will be interesting to see how Nagatomo contributes to the attack by taking a good position and leaving out Sakai.
A, there may of course be match-ups, but as a Tokyo style, it would be best to take a positioning that does not fight the opponent in front of you in the first place, so especially when you have the ball, you want to create a situation where you can win without fighting by taking a positioning that the opponent dislikes. It's about deciding the match with your position, not fighting the opponent in front of you, and taking a position where the match is decided just by receiving the ball. The opponent dislikes that kind of play, and I think that is the way of fighting that leads to Tokyo's victory. I am looking forward to the match-ups and enjoying those tactical aspects.
