[Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Interview]
Q: Tomorrow's match will mark your 100th game as a coach in Japan. Is it safe to say that every official match is more than just a game?
A, having experienced 60 professional matches as a head coach in New York, tomorrow will be my 100th match as the coach of the top team. Regarding this, it is not something particularly special. However, personally, I believe it will be a very memorable match.
Q: Players are required to kick the ball strongly and quickly while maintaining a certain distance from each other. The players seem to be making an effort, don't they?
If you analyze the Nagoya game, you will see that we dominated the opponent in many periods. I am fighting using the characteristics of each player. Based on that, I am gradually changing the players' playing style in a process. Aoki has made a great contribution. However, he is not necessarily a clear one-man midfielder who can do everything. Tsu Center back is not a player who has been doing build-up from the back, but a center back who had a different playing style until last season. The full-backs are players who have not been asked to receive the ball on the side of the midfielder. I don't think Kubo (SLOWIK) has frequently joined the attack either. We are seeking game results while utilizing the characteristics of such players and gradually reforming the team.
When Leandro returns, he will surely bring a plus alpha to the team. The same goes for Kashif BANGNAGANDE's comeback. There are several players, including Renta HIGASHI, who are interesting and worth watching. Ryo WATANABE has also shown good growth. We are encouraging the growth of players who will lead the team in the future. However, it is not easy to balance both obtaining game results and growing. There is a clear difference in pace compared to three months ago. It is getting faster and faster. Gradually, good plays are emerging in positional games. The next step is to apply what we can do in practice to the game. I can feel that the game speed and passing speed have naturally become faster because they are gradually being seen in the game.
Q: Previously, you mentioned that a good pass makes a good sound. Is that one of the criteria that has been improving?
A player's quality of play is greatly influenced more by what happens before receiving the ball than after. Many players can look around and think after receiving the ball. However, the type of play we are looking for is faster, so if you think after receiving the ball, the pace of play will slow down. To maintain a high pace of play, you must make decisions based on a lot of information recognized before receiving the ball. If you can do that well, it will create a situation where the opposing team cannot defend. For example, in a 100-meter dash, if you can start whenever you want rather than at the same time, the one who starts early will win. There may be a chance of being overtaken in the subsequent speed contest, but starting first and winning immediately after is expected. In soccer, without a clear starting signal, you engage in a mental game based on your brain's judgment, and if you win that, you hold the initiative; if you have the ball, winning is expected. As you level up in this way, you must focus on the competition and accumulate points.
Japan needs to improve more in that aspect. The speed of decision-making, the mentality to focus on winning, and the level of players like Renta Higashi, who is 18 years old, if he were a player in Europe, he would have gained more experience in the world of high-level competition. The same can be said for South America. They would have gained a lot of experience playing in many matches in an environment where they have to focus on winning. Of course, I respect Japan, but how many high-level matches has Renta Higashi played in the past year where he really had to focus on winning? Young players in South America and Europe have experienced dozens of matches. This is where the difference in growth comes into play.
Nagatomo is one of the few Japanese players who has continued to perform at a high level in Europe. I don't think his technical level is particularly high. Why has he been able to compete at the top level for so long? There are many players in Japan with higher technical skills than him. However, why is it that those players cannot continue to succeed in Europe, leading to a gap? It is because Nagatomo possesses a strong mentality and has the mindset of a winner who is committed to competition.After the match against Belgium in the Russia World Cup, many commented that Japan is polite due to its innocence, does not complain to referees, and leaves the locker room clean. This is wonderful. I believe that the behavior of Japanese people is indeed a model in life. However, it is difficult to achieve something at a high level with just that kind of innocent mentality. A competitive mentality is necessary. I believe that improving both the speed of situational judgment and the competitive mentality is what Japanese football needs.
Q, do you have high expectations for young players tomorrow as well?
A, I want to continue giving opportunities to young players and give playing time to players who need it to maintain their game sense. In particular, I want young players to have a chance to show what kind of talent they have. I want to fight in the Levain Cup while maintaining a good balance there.
Q: Please tell us your evaluation of player Takahagi's response to the interview.
A, he is a veteran player who is truly amazing and serves as a role model for young players, providing them with stability. This can be said in both mental and soccer aspects. And he has truly amazing technique. I wish I had met him when he was 20 years old. He is a fantastic player. In addition, he is a wonderful professional player. His behavior on and off the pitch is truly perfect.
[Player Interview]
Yojiro TAKAHAGI
Q, I think you are often used in a more offensive position, closer to the forward position, this season. It seems that the coach is sending a message by using players who are good at dribbling in a position that seems to require speed. How do you feel about that role?
Rather than focusing on roles, I am conscious of contributing to the team with what I can do. As a team, there are certainly appropriate positions to take in terms of tactics. It is difficult to make my legs faster, so I hope to demonstrate a unique strength in a different play that other players do not have.
Q: The team has been having consecutive 0-0 matches and I think we need goals. (Player Takahagi), while executing team tactics proficiently, how do you plan to utilize your individual skills to contribute to scoring?
A, I think I am required to make plays that not only possess the ball firmly but also make decisive passes somewhere. I want to play with the awareness of being able to make many of them in the game.
Q, do you want to increase the number of chances because even if you go as planned, it doesn't mean it will be successful?
A, I want to create many decisive scenes.
Q, I'm also looking forward to goals.
A, I am in an attacking position, so I want to play in a way that involves the goal as much as possible.
Q: It is expected that Iwata will use a 5-back formation. What is your response to that?
A, I think they will create a defensive block and defend. Even in the previous match, they did not press from the front line, so they will show their face between the opponent and the opponent, create a situation where the opponent has to slide in defense, and aim for the back of the defensive line against the opponent who has pulled back.
Q, if you don't have awareness to move forward, the opponent won't collapse, right?
A, yes. I would like to have positioning that allows for accurate vertical passes.
Q: Do you feel confident that you can adapt to this football by bringing out what you have done so far?
A, I can contribute to the attack with my own play and I think I can also add some variations. As for the defense, I think intensity is required, so I hope to play with that awareness.
Q, where to put spaces, I think it is important in soccer that is currently working on intentionally creating spaces, what is necessary for that?
A, as the coach also says, in positional play, if you can take a position that troubles the opponent in terms of standing position, the opponent will have to slide and will not be able to come and steal the ball. I want to take such positioning.
Q, what is the factor that makes the team work well together? Is it because they continue without getting impatient?
A, I think that's also true. However, I don't think it's easy to penetrate tactics. I think it's good if we can continue to be patient.
Q: How are you feeling about tomorrow's game?
If we lose, we will be eliminated, so we have to win. We play to win in order to advance to the next stage as a team. We only think about what we can do and give 100% effort to play.
Q, is it about continuing to win in order to create a place to appeal as a player like Takahagi?
Even if you play well, nothing will change if you don't win, so I want to win and produce results, and compete within the team.
