Q, please reflect on the camp so far.
A, with young players and new recruits coming in, the competition has become intense. Compared to the same period last season, I think we have been able to continue what we have been doing for a year, so we are in a very good atmosphere.
Q: Do you feel any improvement from last season?
A, the path we should take became clear in the past season. In order to improve our accuracy and achieve better results, I believe we need to increase the variety of our attacks. Therefore, we are focusing on that aspect during our training camp.
Q, I think the competition for the center back position is intense. Please tell us about your thoughts and aspirations for this season.
I don't think the number of appearances in the previous season matters. I have been approaching each year as a challenge since I turned professional, so I want to make a strong impression in this camp for the entire season. This season, there are particularly high-level players, so I want to prepare myself so that anyone can play and create a higher level of competition that makes the coach struggle with who to use in a good way.
Q: Do you feel the intensity of the position battle?
A, I also think that the surrounding players are playing really well, so I can't afford to lose.
Q: Please tell us your personal goals and team goals for this season.
The goal is to be involved in every game without injury for one year. As a team, of course, there is the goal of winning the league, but as the coach says, we want to win each game in front of us, one game at a time.
Q: There was talk about increasing the variety of attacks, but as a defender, is there anything necessary?
A, we want to not only create chances with one pass from our own side, but also supply passes that can relieve the opponent's pressure without losing the ball at the back. I think we need to be more conscious of supplying good balls to the midfield and forward players while circulating the ball firmly, more than last season.
Q: Is there anything that Kimoto player is conscious of in terms of livening up the atmosphere of practice?
A, I am not consciously aware of it, but because I am on the older side in terms of age, I think I need to raise my voice more to liven things up.
＜Ryoma WATANABE＞
Q: I see many scenes of you running with player Morishige after practice this year. What are you talking about?
A, the content of the conversation is mainly about private matters and not much about football.
Q: Do you discuss tactics and soccer-related topics with players who have been with the team since last season, other than during meetings? A: (Including practice matches) Since the team lineup is not fixed, we haven't had tactical conversations yet.
Q, the players are not fixed and the matches are being conducted, but scenes of entering dangerous areas are often seen in every team. Are you still focusing on scoring? A, I think that parts directly related to scoring, such as how crosses are made and how to break through the defense, will become important.
Q, Do you communicate your techniques to other players who have been playing in matches since last season, such as how to exchange positions with the opposing defender? A, I don't think I'm in a position to teach, and I believe that there are different ways for each person, not only in scoring goals. However, I do talk to young players who have graduated from high school or university about positioning and mindset, rather than how to score goals.
Q, What are you currently personally conscious of? A, I want to make more plays that directly lead to goals. I think my strength is being able to involve others, but in order to become a scary player, I want to expand my shooting range, always aim for the final pass, and be conscious of the parts that directly contribute to scoring.
Q, tomorrow will be the first match of the season against FC Ryukyu, who is in the J-League. Will you be conscious of that? A, yes. However, minimizing mistakes is also my biggest strength, so if I lose that advantage, it becomes a story before the challenge. I think it will be difficult to adjust, but I want to continue playing while preserving my strengths.
Q, there was a mention of being conscious of plays that lead to goals, is that something that the coach also expects? A, it's not that the coach expects it. Looking back at the individual results from last season, I felt that if I couldn't score more goals, we wouldn't be able to aim for the league championship or high goals. (Football is) a sport where you score goals, so even if you can pass the ball around, you can't win without scoring, so it's my personal decision because I want to score more.
Q, did you think that you needed plays that would directly lead to goals when looking back on the off-season? A, I had been thinking about it for a while. This season, I have been able to play in the forward position from the beginning, so I think this is the perfect timing. When I seriously wanted to achieve results, I think this season became the most important year.
Q, please tell us the team's goal and individual goals. A, The team's goal is to win the league. Personally, I want to score 10 goals.
Q, What changes have there been in the team in the 2022 and 2023 seasons? A, Of course, the base of last season, but I think the players' awareness of scoring goals has increased, as well as plays that directly lead to goals. It's not just about connecting the ball with the premise of valuing the ball, but also about not missing players who move to score goals and prioritizing the criteria for judgment to pass the ball to the front line if possible.
Q, KIMOTO player also said that he has become able to rotate the ball well up to the penalty area, but I think that the breaking beyond that is important. Regarding creativity and attack, do you have any personal keywords, WATANABE player? A, I think it is important to synchronize the breath between individuals in order to score more than last season. It's obvious, but it's important not only for the passer but also for the receiver to start moving while looking at the opponent and synchronize their breath.
