On the 13th, manager Maciej Skorza held an online press conference, where he spoke about his enthusiasm for the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 1 match against Vissel Kobe, which will be held at Noevir Stadium Kobe on (Sat) the 15th.

(Knowing the characteristics of the J.League, how do you feel now that the season is about to begin?)
"Right now, everyone is itching to play as the season approaches. With many new players, we have had a very intensive preseason. We also saw some exciting plays in the training matches. So, I think we are ready to start the season in good shape. However, with so many new players, this will be the first official match where we will be playing under such pressure. I think the match against Kobe will be the first time we will see the current state of the team, so I am looking forward to seeing that as well."

During the Okinawa training camp, you said that you wanted to find a strong setup, but were you able to find a setup that satisfied you?
"We've been playing training matches with a similar set-up, and I think it's getting better every time we play. As the coach, I also have to adapt to the opposing team, so I'm thinking about who I'll put in the starting 11 for the Kobe match. For example, the last time we played against Kobe, I put Yoichi Naganuma in fullback and strengthened our defense against Sakai (Takanori) and Muto (Yoshinori). But unfortunately we conceded a goal from a corner kick, so I had to change my idea at halftime."

(The captains were announced the other day, and Coach Maciej said he wanted to "decide the captain after careful consideration," and chose Takahiro Sekine. What did he expect from Sekine when he selected him?)
"I've known Taka since he first came to Japan. I've seen him after big wins and tough losses. He's a player who always has a positive influence on the team. Above all, he has built good relationships with the other players, including the younger players and foreign players. Also, when choosing the captain, we took into consideration his strong roots in Urawa Reds. I trust Taka and believe he will be a very good captain this season."

(The last training session was about 10 days ago, so I imagine you were pretty focused on it. What did you emphasize during that time?)
"First of all, we focused on the physical aspects. The Kobe match will be a physically tough match. In preparation for the Kobe match, we have been training important points in defence as well as attacking styles. Since the start of this week, we have placed emphasis on low defence. We have been training on things like defending against the opponent's diagonal balls that get us into the final third, and dealing with crosses. Kobe's weapons and attacking methods are clear, so we have been training on those."

(In 2023, when Maciej was in charge for the first time, he immediately used Marius Hoibraten, who joined in February, as a starter. He doesn't need to say for sure whether he will use Danilo Boza, but does he think it would be better to improve the player's condition while using him in games?)
"I think one way to improve your condition is to play. As for Danilo, I'm not worried about his physical condition. If anything, it's more about mutual understanding with the other players, including (Nishikawa) Shusaku."

(Starting this year, the J-League will allow nine players on the bench. What are your thoughts on this and how will it affect the Reds? Is it a good thing for them?)
"I think this is good for all the teams. I think all the managers are happy. In 2023, I wasn't very comfortable because I felt like I couldn't use the strength of the whole team. I think this was a very good decision, and if you look at leagues around the world, you're in a similar situation."

(It is said that it is not surprising that a team in the Maciej wins the championship because there is little difference in the level of play between the top and bottom teams. How do you view this season's J.League, looking at the reinforcement trends of other teams?)
"Right now we are concentrating on our next opponent, but looking at the league as a whole, this season is not one in which new big stars have arrived. Also, the overall trend in the J.League is to improve the quality of current players and deepen tactics. I feel that they are looking at the organization rather than individuals. Therefore, I think that improving the whole team is given priority over adding big stars."

(The Reds have added Matheus Savio, a representative J.League player, and I think they are strong enough to compete with other teams, but how do you feel your strength compares to other clubs?)
"There have been some interesting transfers domestically, and I think Savio was one of them. I think we are stronger as a team compared to last season. I also feel that there is a difference in mentality compared to last season. We worked very hard during the preseason, and the players were very eager and highly motivated, making demands of each other and creating a very positive atmosphere. As I said earlier, we will be able to see how they actually perform once the official matches begin, but we want to get off to a good start, and even if things don't go well, I think the current players will try to overcome them in a positive way."

(There has been talk that Kobe's weapons and attacking methods are clear, but what is your impression?)
"They have won the championship for the past two seasons and can be said to be the best team in Japan. They are also a team that is good at the play they perform. Just looking at last year's stats, they were the team with the most crosses in the league, which they place great importance on. Before a Kobe match, every manager knows exactly what Kobe is going to do. However, you won't know how well you can defend against that high quality until you actually play. I think Manager Yoshida (Takayuki) trains even the finer details of tactics, and they are a team that can play in an organized manner. I watched the recent match against Shanghai Haiyan, and considering that it is the start of the season, I think they are in good physical condition."

(What do you think the Reds should focus on as challengers to beat Kobe?)
"I think we need to be patient on both offense and defense. We need to be especially careful when switching from defense to offense. Kobe will use Gegenpress when they lose the ball. That's something we need to be careful of."

(I think there were some difficulties last season as you took over midway through the season. When I recall what Coach Maciej said when he first came to the J.League in 2023, I think he conveyed his firm determination to "build a strong team." Has that still not changed?)
"Of course. And this season the club has worked really hard to acquire new players. And since we have the experience from last season, we have the advantage of being able to prepare this season by mixing in new players. And I feel that there is a strong determination in the locker room. I can sense that the foreign players and new players, including (Haraguchi) Genki, Taka, Marius and (Nishikawa) Shu, are determined to aim for victory right from the start. I want to build a strong team and aim for the J.League title. I think enthusiasm is very important. I think that is especially important for us, as we start the season with three difficult away games in a row. So I am looking forward to seeing how we can get off to a good start, but I also think it is important not to be impatient."

(How well has the philosophy and tactics been adopted by the new group?)
"You can't get everything absorbed in three or four weeks. I think it's a process. For example, Takuro (Kaneko) and Savio will have more defensive tasks than they did at their previous clubs, so I think it will be difficult for them. But they are showing a strong will to make an effort, so I'm positive that they will adapt quickly."

(Kobe has played two games in the FUJIFILM SUPER CUP and the AFC Champions League under stressful conditions, but how difficult do you think it will be for the Reds to face them in their first game?)
"That's a good question. In that sense, I think Kobe has an advantage. They've already played two games in a pressured environment. It's our first game, but seeing the great atmosphere the players created in the preseason, I believe we can put up a good fight. We're playing against the champions, but we want to get off to a good start with a win, so I think we need to give it our all at 120 percent."

(This will be Maciej 's second J-League season, but how do you plan to use the lessons and experiences you gained in 2023 in the 2025 season?)
"The experience of last preseason was important for me. And just like two years ago, I think this season will be exhausting with a lot of games. Last time, we started the season with two consecutive losses. I remember well that we were in last place after the second game. Based on that experience, I took into consideration the intensity of training this season. I made sure to rest properly before high-intensity training. I was careful not to overload myself with training. I tried to be at the top level physically from the start. I also changed the way I approached the tactical side of things a little, and this time we played games with a more or less fixed lineup. I thought so based on the experience of last preseason, and because we have many new players, I tried to give them more time to play together."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]