NEWS
"It's a very important game and it's going to be tough", Coach Maciej Skorza (regular press conference 7/10)
On the 10th, coach Maciej Skorza held an online press conference where he spoke about his enthusiasm for the third round match against Montedio Yamagata in the Emperor's Cup JFA 103rd All Japan Football Championship, which will be held at ND Soft Stadium Yamagata on the 12th.
(The match against Yamagata will be a back-to-back game, so what kind of team composition are you planning to use?)
"We are currently monitoring the players' fatigue levels. This is being done by the medical staff and the physical team. We will only know who will be able to play from the start after tomorrow's training session."
(Hiroki Sakai was injured in the match against FC Tokyo on the 8th, so I think the fullback position is in a very tough spot. What are your thoughts on this?)
"Hiroki will not be able to play in the next match. In the previous match, Ogiwara (Takuya) played as right back, and I think his performance was good. However, there are other options, and there are several players who can play right back, such as Kazuaki Mawatari and Yota Horiuchi."
(It seems Sakai will not be able to play in the next match. What is the situation?)
"I think we can say that the situation is under control now. He is injured, but there is no major damage to the bones or ligaments. The medical staff is now closely monitoring him, and I think the doctor's behavior immediately after the injury was good. He started treatment right away. Of course, we would like him to return as soon as possible, but treatment and recovery will take some time, so we must be patient."
(The Emperor's Cup is a difficult one-off match, but what do you want your players to do to win the match?)
"That's a good question. I can say from my experience back home that playing against teams in a lower category in cup matches is always difficult. I think the same can be said in Japan. The (YBC) Levain Cup match against Shimizu and the Emperor's Cup match against Kansai University were also very difficult matches. In the Emperor's Cup, you have to fight without losing focus. Last season, a team from the J2 League won as well. I want to prepare as well as possible for this match. It's a very important match, and I think it will be a tough one. I think we have to be prepared for all scenarios, including extra time."
(What is your impression of Yamagata?)
"I think they are a dangerous team, especially at home. I watched yesterday's game, and it was a close match in the first half, and they created goal chances even when it was 0-2. They have a player, Fujimoto (Yoshiki), who can score four goals in one game, so I think we need to be careful of him. Today, I received information about Yamagata from the analyst, and it was said in the coaching staff meeting that they may make some saves from yesterday's game and use them in the Emperor's Cup match."
(I think that for the past two or three weeks, you have been using around 18 players, including starters and substitutes, but will you be playing with players who are not on that squad in the Emperor's Cup? Or are you planning to get through with the current general framework?)
"First of all, Hiroki is unable to play, so players who have been in that position will come in. We will look at the data, including the results of blood tests, and their condition for tomorrow before making a final decision on who to include in the team."
(The three foreign players haven't played in a match for a while, but is there a chance they'll play for Yamagata?)
"Each foreign player's situation is different. For example, Alex Schalk has not been able to play due to injury. We are trying out Toshiki Takahashi on the wing. In the centre forward position, Shinzo (Koroki) and Jose (Kante) are in good condition. However, there is of course a possibility that the foreign players who have not played much up until now will play in the next match."
It's really hot today, but we still have to play soccer. How do you plan to adapt to the heat?
"I think we need to prepare a strategy that takes into account the conditions, including the heat, before the match. However, when making decisions during the match, the situation will also affect us. However, in these circumstances, I think that some players will only be able to play for a maximum of 45 minutes. We will proceed while taking such things into consideration."
(Until April, Yamagata was managed by Peter Kramowski, who is now the manager of FC Tokyo. Since then, Watanabe Shin has been in charge, but it seems he has followed the same tactics to some extent. Perhaps the previous match against FC Tokyo will be beneficial for the Reds?)
"That's a very interesting story. I hadn't thought of this match in that way, so I think it's interesting. Maybe it's better to think of it in a linked way. Yamagata is a team that tries to keep the ball and play while maintaining possession. And it's a survival tournament, so if you lose you're eliminated. Making a mistake in that situation will lead directly to elimination, so both teams may try to play safer football than usual. I expect Yamagata to play a bit more defensively, even at home.
"It's an important match for both teams. Yamagata's current standings are nine points away from a possible promotion to the J1 League. In that situation, I think there's a chance they'll go all out in the Emperor's Cup."
(I think the role you are asking Takahashi to play on the left wing is different from that of a typical side attacker, but what are your expectations of him?)
"Even when he plays as a winger, I expect him to penetrate into the penalty area and get into good positions to score goals. For example, compared to Takahiro Sekine he is a completely different type of player. He is a player who is good at heading and shooting with his right foot, so I think he will be able to make use of those even if he plays as a winger. He is also a player who works hard, and he also works hard in wing defense, so we are checking that out as well."
(When Takahashi plays on the left wing, the way the left fullback is utilized and the crosses from the opposite wing will be different from when Sekine plays. Are you giving instructions on such matters?)
"When Toshiki plays on the wing, the way we build up the play changes a little. We've already been working on that in practice, and I think Toshiki is getting better every time he plays.
(Yamagata's right back is an offensive strength, and in defence they also have space behind them, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they attack and defend.)
"The right back is a player who makes unique movements during build-up, so we need to be prepared to deal with that."
(It seems that Hiroki Abe has joined the team. What are your first impressions of him and what are your expectations?)
"I think he is a very talented and technically skilled player. The team needs players of that type. The question is how soon we can get him involved in official matches. There is a preparation period leading up to that, so we will be patient and wait. I have already had a discussion with him, and he is very motivated. I feel he is a very intelligent player, and I don't think it will take him long to get used to the team."
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
(The match against Yamagata will be a back-to-back game, so what kind of team composition are you planning to use?)
"We are currently monitoring the players' fatigue levels. This is being done by the medical staff and the physical team. We will only know who will be able to play from the start after tomorrow's training session."
(Hiroki Sakai was injured in the match against FC Tokyo on the 8th, so I think the fullback position is in a very tough spot. What are your thoughts on this?)
"Hiroki will not be able to play in the next match. In the previous match, Ogiwara (Takuya) played as right back, and I think his performance was good. However, there are other options, and there are several players who can play right back, such as Kazuaki Mawatari and Yota Horiuchi."
(It seems Sakai will not be able to play in the next match. What is the situation?)
"I think we can say that the situation is under control now. He is injured, but there is no major damage to the bones or ligaments. The medical staff is now closely monitoring him, and I think the doctor's behavior immediately after the injury was good. He started treatment right away. Of course, we would like him to return as soon as possible, but treatment and recovery will take some time, so we must be patient."
(The Emperor's Cup is a difficult one-off match, but what do you want your players to do to win the match?)
"That's a good question. I can say from my experience back home that playing against teams in a lower category in cup matches is always difficult. I think the same can be said in Japan. The (YBC) Levain Cup match against Shimizu and the Emperor's Cup match against Kansai University were also very difficult matches. In the Emperor's Cup, you have to fight without losing focus. Last season, a team from the J2 League won as well. I want to prepare as well as possible for this match. It's a very important match, and I think it will be a tough one. I think we have to be prepared for all scenarios, including extra time."
(What is your impression of Yamagata?)
"I think they are a dangerous team, especially at home. I watched yesterday's game, and it was a close match in the first half, and they created goal chances even when it was 0-2. They have a player, Fujimoto (Yoshiki), who can score four goals in one game, so I think we need to be careful of him. Today, I received information about Yamagata from the analyst, and it was said in the coaching staff meeting that they may make some saves from yesterday's game and use them in the Emperor's Cup match."
(I think that for the past two or three weeks, you have been using around 18 players, including starters and substitutes, but will you be playing with players who are not on that squad in the Emperor's Cup? Or are you planning to get through with the current general framework?)
"First of all, Hiroki is unable to play, so players who have been in that position will come in. We will look at the data, including the results of blood tests, and their condition for tomorrow before making a final decision on who to include in the team."
(The three foreign players haven't played in a match for a while, but is there a chance they'll play for Yamagata?)
"Each foreign player's situation is different. For example, Alex Schalk has not been able to play due to injury. We are trying out Toshiki Takahashi on the wing. In the centre forward position, Shinzo (Koroki) and Jose (Kante) are in good condition. However, there is of course a possibility that the foreign players who have not played much up until now will play in the next match."
It's really hot today, but we still have to play soccer. How do you plan to adapt to the heat?
"I think we need to prepare a strategy that takes into account the conditions, including the heat, before the match. However, when making decisions during the match, the situation will also affect us. However, in these circumstances, I think that some players will only be able to play for a maximum of 45 minutes. We will proceed while taking such things into consideration."
(Until April, Yamagata was managed by Peter Kramowski, who is now the manager of FC Tokyo. Since then, Watanabe Shin has been in charge, but it seems he has followed the same tactics to some extent. Perhaps the previous match against FC Tokyo will be beneficial for the Reds?)
"That's a very interesting story. I hadn't thought of this match in that way, so I think it's interesting. Maybe it's better to think of it in a linked way. Yamagata is a team that tries to keep the ball and play while maintaining possession. And it's a survival tournament, so if you lose you're eliminated. Making a mistake in that situation will lead directly to elimination, so both teams may try to play safer football than usual. I expect Yamagata to play a bit more defensively, even at home.
"It's an important match for both teams. Yamagata's current standings are nine points away from a possible promotion to the J1 League. In that situation, I think there's a chance they'll go all out in the Emperor's Cup."
(I think the role you are asking Takahashi to play on the left wing is different from that of a typical side attacker, but what are your expectations of him?)
"Even when he plays as a winger, I expect him to penetrate into the penalty area and get into good positions to score goals. For example, compared to Takahiro Sekine he is a completely different type of player. He is a player who is good at heading and shooting with his right foot, so I think he will be able to make use of those even if he plays as a winger. He is also a player who works hard, and he also works hard in wing defense, so we are checking that out as well."
(When Takahashi plays on the left wing, the way the left fullback is utilized and the crosses from the opposite wing will be different from when Sekine plays. Are you giving instructions on such matters?)
"When Toshiki plays on the wing, the way we build up the play changes a little. We've already been working on that in practice, and I think Toshiki is getting better every time he plays.
(Yamagata's right back is an offensive strength, and in defence they also have space behind them, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they attack and defend.)
"The right back is a player who makes unique movements during build-up, so we need to be prepared to deal with that."
(It seems that Hiroki Abe has joined the team. What are your first impressions of him and what are your expectations?)
"I think he is a very talented and technically skilled player. The team needs players of that type. The question is how soon we can get him involved in official matches. There is a preparation period leading up to that, so we will be patient and wait. I have already had a discussion with him, and he is very motivated. I feel he is a very intelligent player, and I don't think it will take him long to get used to the team."
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
