NEWS
Okubo "The players in front of us should score and win"
On the 20th, after the public training session, Tomoaki Okubo gave a press conference and spoke about his enthusiasm for the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 18 match against Kawasaki Frontale [MATCH PARTNER Mitsubishi Heavy Industries] to be held at Saitama Stadium on June 24th, and what he wants to focus on in the period leading up to the match.
(The players who started in the match against Shimizu S-Pulse on the 18th were mainly focused on recovery, but what about Okubo's own condition?)
"I'm feeling a little tired, but the season is well underway and it's going to be difficult to stay fresh at this point. Despite that, I think I'm maintaining my condition."
(How do you plan to prepare in the week leading up to the Kawasaki match?)
"Personally, I think I need to take on more challenges in training. I want to play more boldly. I think it would be better for the team to communicate more. While there are some areas that are not going well, I think it's important that the subject is directed at me. For example, there are times when I wish the others would carry the ball more, but I also think that there are times when the backseat can't pass the ball. I think that everyone needs to keep their eyes pointed at themselves and think about what they need to do. If we do that, I think we can fight again as a team. I think it's these kinds of small details that are important right now."
(Looking at recent results, goals are expected, and I think Okubo himself wants them too, but it's not easy to improve the quality of each individual player in front of the goal. What do you want to improve as a team?)
"I think we need a team structure. In training last week we talked about getting more in front of the goal, and in the match against Shimizu we had two or three players in front of the goal when we were crossing. That's good, but on the other hand, I think it's also possible that we were on the receiving end of a counter attack. I think it's good to create a structure as a team. It would be good if we could communicate about that and create goal patterns. I also think it would be good to make more requests, such as, "If you hold the ball like this, look here."
(How do you think the Kawasaki match ranks?)
"In the (Emperor's Cup) match against Kansai University, we were unable to settle the game in 90 minutes against university students, and we drew with Yokohama FC and also with Shimizu in the J2 League. The fans and supporters watching have been experiencing a string of stressful matches, so I think the match against Kawasaki is a great opportunity. Coach (Maciej Skorza) said that it was a 'difficult time,' but we no longer need the excuses of playing consecutive games or having just won the championship. If the players in front of us can score goals and we can win the match against Kawasaki, I think we will be able to get on a roll as a team."
(The Reds have played few games so there is a gap in the number of games played compared to other teams, but how do you feel about the fact that the match against Kawasaki is the last match of the first half of the J1 League season?)
"I think playing Kawasaki at home is the perfect situation. If we can score when we need to and tighten up when we need to, I think we can take our game to the next level."
(If we can have that kind of fight, won't Saitama Stadium have a good atmosphere?)
"If I can show my own initiative, take on challenges, and have the attitude of going for the win, I think the fans and supporters will get even more excited, and the atmosphere at Saitama Stadium will improve dramatically. I think it's important for us to approach the game with a good attitude so that we don't sigh."
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
June 24th (Sat) Meiji Yasuda Life J1 League Round 18 Match Kawasaki Frontale [MATCH PARTNER Mitsubishi Heavy Industries] (19:30, Saitama Stadium)
Purchase tickets here
https://bit.ly/3XhVGhV
(The players who started in the match against Shimizu S-Pulse on the 18th were mainly focused on recovery, but what about Okubo's own condition?)
"I'm feeling a little tired, but the season is well underway and it's going to be difficult to stay fresh at this point. Despite that, I think I'm maintaining my condition."
(How do you plan to prepare in the week leading up to the Kawasaki match?)
"Personally, I think I need to take on more challenges in training. I want to play more boldly. I think it would be better for the team to communicate more. While there are some areas that are not going well, I think it's important that the subject is directed at me. For example, there are times when I wish the others would carry the ball more, but I also think that there are times when the backseat can't pass the ball. I think that everyone needs to keep their eyes pointed at themselves and think about what they need to do. If we do that, I think we can fight again as a team. I think it's these kinds of small details that are important right now."
(Looking at recent results, goals are expected, and I think Okubo himself wants them too, but it's not easy to improve the quality of each individual player in front of the goal. What do you want to improve as a team?)
"I think we need a team structure. In training last week we talked about getting more in front of the goal, and in the match against Shimizu we had two or three players in front of the goal when we were crossing. That's good, but on the other hand, I think it's also possible that we were on the receiving end of a counter attack. I think it's good to create a structure as a team. It would be good if we could communicate about that and create goal patterns. I also think it would be good to make more requests, such as, "If you hold the ball like this, look here."
(How do you think the Kawasaki match ranks?)
"In the (Emperor's Cup) match against Kansai University, we were unable to settle the game in 90 minutes against university students, and we drew with Yokohama FC and also with Shimizu in the J2 League. The fans and supporters watching have been experiencing a string of stressful matches, so I think the match against Kawasaki is a great opportunity. Coach (Maciej Skorza) said that it was a 'difficult time,' but we no longer need the excuses of playing consecutive games or having just won the championship. If the players in front of us can score goals and we can win the match against Kawasaki, I think we will be able to get on a roll as a team."
(The Reds have played few games so there is a gap in the number of games played compared to other teams, but how do you feel about the fact that the match against Kawasaki is the last match of the first half of the J1 League season?)
"I think playing Kawasaki at home is the perfect situation. If we can score when we need to and tighten up when we need to, I think we can take our game to the next level."
(If we can have that kind of fight, won't Saitama Stadium have a good atmosphere?)
"If I can show my own initiative, take on challenges, and have the attitude of going for the win, I think the fans and supporters will get even more excited, and the atmosphere at Saitama Stadium will improve dramatically. I think it's important for us to approach the game with a good attitude so that we don't sigh."
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
June 24th (Sat) Meiji Yasuda Life J1 League Round 18 Match Kawasaki Frontale [MATCH PARTNER Mitsubishi Heavy Industries] (19:30, Saitama Stadium)
Purchase tickets here
https://bit.ly/3XhVGhV
