NEWS
`` Wojciech Makowski is a very difficult opponent.
Wojciech Makowski (Mako) held a press conference online on the 11th to discuss the defense he is in charge of and his enthusiasm for the Meiji Yasuda Life J1 League Round 23 match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on the 13th away at Edion Stadium Hiroshima. and so on.
(I think it's been about 7 months since you came to Japan. Have you gotten used to life in Japan?)
"I've gotten used to it, so it wasn't that difficult. Everyone at the club and everyone around me helped me. All the Japanese people are very kind, so I hope you have a good day. I'm having a good time."
(Coach Mako is in charge of defense, so I would like to ask about defense. I think the training camp started with press training, but he said, ``The position of the ball and the teammates is important, and the position of the opponent does not exist.'' It may have been translated by Maiki Hayashi, the coach and analyst, but please tell us about Mako's defensive philosophy.)
“Our main defense rule is to defend in the zone, not man-to-man. And when you think about zone defense, the most important thing is the position of the ball. The next thing you have to look at is the position of your teammates.”
(I think it's the same idea for defending on set, but did anyone inspire you with regards to zone defense?)
“I have been with Raków Czestochowa, the current Polish champion team, for four years, and the manager at that time had the concept of zone defense, and when I thought about my own zone defense, that was the starting point. I feel it."
(Maciej Skorza also said at the first press conference that “maintaining the structure is very important”, but I think the AFC Champions League victory is the result of defending as one unit. The current Urawa Reds. How do you perceive the defense of
“We have conceded the fewest goals in the J1 League, so I think we can say that the quality of our defense is good. I think there are many factors that influence that. Also, I think the influence of the coaching staff is also there.For example, Coach Shiota (GK assistant Hitoshi) is in charge of defending set-pieces, but even in such places, he has not conceded a goal, which leads to fewer goals conceded. GK coach Joan (Millet) is also a very high quality coach, so I think he is also an influence.Also, the management of the staff and the management of the organization by our boss, Maciej, is also an influence. I think we are doing that, so I think we were able to achieve the fewest goals conceded in the league thanks to many factors.”
(How do you apply defensive theory to your team?)
“I have been building a base since the Okinawa training camp, but after that, I use videos of games to explain to individual players, positions, and the whole team. We don't have a lot of time, we're still working on getting our players out of our ideas, but at this point it's more about reminding them of what they've been doing rather than telling them something new."
(I think that how to switch on the press that fits in from the front and the decision to lay the block are important factors, but what is coach Mako asking the players to do?)
“There are times to press, but the players are not machines. It is up to the players to decide when to press. Or, it is a pass between volunteers, but when it comes to action, it is the moment when the pass comes out.
The basic defense is to press high, but there are times in the game where you form a block and wait for your opponent to recover your strength if you are a little tired. For example, there are rules when building blocks in the middle zone. I can't say much about the rules, though. Information will also be passed on to the other team, so please understand that."
(What impression do you have of Sanfrecce Hiroshima 's attacking team, who will face them on the 13th? What points do you want to focus on in defense?)
“Hiroshima is a very difficult opponent. Looking at their stats, they are the team with the highest expected goal score in the J1 League. They're a team that typically plays back three, they've only played two games as a back four, and they haven't won the last eight games, so I think it's going to be a bit of a difficult time for them. I think I will play the next game while trying to break through, so I have to be careful.
When it comes to their offense, I think one of their philosophies is to get behind the opponent's defensive line. Especially Kawamura (Takumu) comes out from the middle. In the build-up, I think Sasaki (Sho), the captain and left center back, would be good. He can pass between the lines on the ground, or he can hit the back of the opponent's defense with a long ball. I have several ideas for how to defend against Hiroshima.”
(When you first decided to come to the Reds, I think you watched last season's games, but did you feel that there were many things you had to work on? did you feel it?)
“We thought about communicating our ideas and rules rather than thinking about how hard it would be or not when it came to defense. It was a play that was based on a different idea, so it was important for us to convey our thoughts to them, not whether it was good or bad."
(In particular, high presses are often emphasized, but I don't think it's good if you keep getting attacked and end up with a CK even though you haven't conceded a goal. What kind of situation is Coach Mako good at defending? can you say that
“That’s a good question. Some people may think that defense was good because they kept a clean sheet, but there are times when defense shifts to offense, such as scoring a goal after a high press. In soccer, a clean sheet is a winning point. It can lead to a score of 2.5, so I think it's very important not to concede a goal, but I think it's also important to steal the ball from the opponent and score a goal."
(You mentioned the term "expected goal value" earlier, but there are various data in soccer. For example, in defense, various indicators such as PPDA (Passes Allowed Per Defensive Actions), which indicate the action value of defense for each pass, have emerged. I think there is, but is there any data Coach Mako values?
“First of all, I look at how many goals were scored and conceded. I think many people who are watching the game are also concerned about the possession rate, but the opponent decides how many chances that lead to the expected goal value. I think it will be important to see how many machines we have created.Also, I think it is important to invade the penalty area.For example, in the recent match against Yokohama F･Marinos, the Reds invaded 23 times. Marinos has invaded seven times, and looking at this data, I can feel which one outperformed."
(Nowadays, whether it's J-League soccer or Europe, I think that any team plays a solid defense first, and tactically stealing the opponent's ball with high presses leads to taking the initiative in the game. , How does Coach Mako think about the importance of defense?
“To reiterate, on average, matches that finish without conceding a goal lead to an average of 2.5 points. I think that 2.5 points is a lot, so I think it is important not to concede a goal. We have to run in defense.I think we have improved in all aspects.I think the technical level has improved overall, and the speed of play when we have the ball is higher than before. Also, players who don't have the ball will be required to run faster than they used to."
(Every team wants to press high and win the ball, but what is the most important thing in high pressing?)
"Strength"
(I want you to tell me a little more about what kind of strength it is)
“Pressing starts on the first row. It can be a striker or a winger. In order to press effectively, that first row player has to go with a high intensity. The first is the timing of when to go to the press.The next thing is how to go aggressively.The next important thing is the cooperation between the players.The press must be organized, not individual play. No, and you have to be ready in all zones, your opponents may pass between the lines, they may use the sides, if you press, you can play long balls. He may kick behind, so the players on the defensive line must be able to defend with good positioning, good body orientation, and good distance.”
(Coach Mako is young at 33 years old, and I think he was coaching at a training organization when he was in his 20s?)
“Before coming to Japan, I worked in professional football for five years.Before that, I worked with the younger generation.”
(What kind of player were you when you were a player? What inspired you to become a coach?)
"To answer your last question first, I wasn't good enough as a player, so I wanted to be a coach. It's simple. It wasn't an injury. I wasn't technically good enough. I was about 20 or 21. At that time, I knew that I would not be able to become a professional soccer player, so I made the decision to remain in the world of soccer that I love. As a player, I was the type to work hard.”
(I think you are analyzing various teams in the J.League, but is there a team that you think is interesting in attack?)
“Sagan Tosu will make an interesting attack. They will attack with a build-up that is different from other teams.”
(Is there a team you think is interesting defensively?)
"It's the team with the fewest goals (laughs)."
(I think you've seen a lot of players so far, but what kind of player is suitable for centre-back?)
“First of all, we need players who can be aggressive on the pitch. They need to be able to win in the air, have speed, and can change direction quickly. It's a very good thing to have, and it's a plus to have a wider field of view to see different parts of the pitch, not just right next to you, but also behind the opponent's line."
(What about humanity?)
“I think being aggressive is also part of your personality.”
(In Japan, players who originally played as forwards sometimes convert to defenders, but are there any such ideas or examples in Poland?)
“I don’t remember much, but there is Lukasz Piszczek who played for Borussia Dortmund. I was playing right center back."
(I would like to ask about your relationship with Director Maciej. Please tell us about the length of your relationship, his personality, and how great his management is.)
“I met Maciej for the first time two years ago and put him in his coaching staff group. After working with Lev Poznan for a year, I came to Urawa Reds Maciej I think he's the director, he's a person who works with a very high level of motivation, and that motivation is contagious to those around him."
(Do you ever get praised or scolded by Maciej?)
"Of course I have feelings, so that's part of it. After working with us for a year like this, they asked me to come to the Reds, so I think they are satisfied with my job to some extent. I don't think I'm doing a perfect job, but I can't remember the scene where I got scolded (laughs)."
(Why did Coach Mako start playing soccer?)
“I think it has something to do with my family. My grandfather was a big soccer fan, so it was normal for me to watch soccer and think about soccer from an early age. I think I wanted to be one of those people."
(Who is your favorite club or player?)
“After becoming a coach, I no longer watch games from the fans’ point of view.
(What was your childhood dream?)
“I like Juventus, and my favorite player was Zinedine Zidane. Zidane joined the team, so I became a fan of Real Madrid (laughs).”
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
(I think it's been about 7 months since you came to Japan. Have you gotten used to life in Japan?)
"I've gotten used to it, so it wasn't that difficult. Everyone at the club and everyone around me helped me. All the Japanese people are very kind, so I hope you have a good day. I'm having a good time."
(Coach Mako is in charge of defense, so I would like to ask about defense. I think the training camp started with press training, but he said, ``The position of the ball and the teammates is important, and the position of the opponent does not exist.'' It may have been translated by Maiki Hayashi, the coach and analyst, but please tell us about Mako's defensive philosophy.)
“Our main defense rule is to defend in the zone, not man-to-man. And when you think about zone defense, the most important thing is the position of the ball. The next thing you have to look at is the position of your teammates.”
(I think it's the same idea for defending on set, but did anyone inspire you with regards to zone defense?)
“I have been with Raków Czestochowa, the current Polish champion team, for four years, and the manager at that time had the concept of zone defense, and when I thought about my own zone defense, that was the starting point. I feel it."
(Maciej Skorza also said at the first press conference that “maintaining the structure is very important”, but I think the AFC Champions League victory is the result of defending as one unit. The current Urawa Reds. How do you perceive the defense of
“We have conceded the fewest goals in the J1 League, so I think we can say that the quality of our defense is good. I think there are many factors that influence that. Also, I think the influence of the coaching staff is also there.For example, Coach Shiota (GK assistant Hitoshi) is in charge of defending set-pieces, but even in such places, he has not conceded a goal, which leads to fewer goals conceded. GK coach Joan (Millet) is also a very high quality coach, so I think he is also an influence.Also, the management of the staff and the management of the organization by our boss, Maciej, is also an influence. I think we are doing that, so I think we were able to achieve the fewest goals conceded in the league thanks to many factors.”
(How do you apply defensive theory to your team?)
“I have been building a base since the Okinawa training camp, but after that, I use videos of games to explain to individual players, positions, and the whole team. We don't have a lot of time, we're still working on getting our players out of our ideas, but at this point it's more about reminding them of what they've been doing rather than telling them something new."
(I think that how to switch on the press that fits in from the front and the decision to lay the block are important factors, but what is coach Mako asking the players to do?)
“There are times to press, but the players are not machines. It is up to the players to decide when to press. Or, it is a pass between volunteers, but when it comes to action, it is the moment when the pass comes out.
The basic defense is to press high, but there are times in the game where you form a block and wait for your opponent to recover your strength if you are a little tired. For example, there are rules when building blocks in the middle zone. I can't say much about the rules, though. Information will also be passed on to the other team, so please understand that."
(What impression do you have of Sanfrecce Hiroshima 's attacking team, who will face them on the 13th? What points do you want to focus on in defense?)
“Hiroshima is a very difficult opponent. Looking at their stats, they are the team with the highest expected goal score in the J1 League. They're a team that typically plays back three, they've only played two games as a back four, and they haven't won the last eight games, so I think it's going to be a bit of a difficult time for them. I think I will play the next game while trying to break through, so I have to be careful.
When it comes to their offense, I think one of their philosophies is to get behind the opponent's defensive line. Especially Kawamura (Takumu) comes out from the middle. In the build-up, I think Sasaki (Sho), the captain and left center back, would be good. He can pass between the lines on the ground, or he can hit the back of the opponent's defense with a long ball. I have several ideas for how to defend against Hiroshima.”
(When you first decided to come to the Reds, I think you watched last season's games, but did you feel that there were many things you had to work on? did you feel it?)
“We thought about communicating our ideas and rules rather than thinking about how hard it would be or not when it came to defense. It was a play that was based on a different idea, so it was important for us to convey our thoughts to them, not whether it was good or bad."
(In particular, high presses are often emphasized, but I don't think it's good if you keep getting attacked and end up with a CK even though you haven't conceded a goal. What kind of situation is Coach Mako good at defending? can you say that
“That’s a good question. Some people may think that defense was good because they kept a clean sheet, but there are times when defense shifts to offense, such as scoring a goal after a high press. In soccer, a clean sheet is a winning point. It can lead to a score of 2.5, so I think it's very important not to concede a goal, but I think it's also important to steal the ball from the opponent and score a goal."
(You mentioned the term "expected goal value" earlier, but there are various data in soccer. For example, in defense, various indicators such as PPDA (Passes Allowed Per Defensive Actions), which indicate the action value of defense for each pass, have emerged. I think there is, but is there any data Coach Mako values?
“First of all, I look at how many goals were scored and conceded. I think many people who are watching the game are also concerned about the possession rate, but the opponent decides how many chances that lead to the expected goal value. I think it will be important to see how many machines we have created.Also, I think it is important to invade the penalty area.For example, in the recent match against Yokohama F･Marinos, the Reds invaded 23 times. Marinos has invaded seven times, and looking at this data, I can feel which one outperformed."
(Nowadays, whether it's J-League soccer or Europe, I think that any team plays a solid defense first, and tactically stealing the opponent's ball with high presses leads to taking the initiative in the game. , How does Coach Mako think about the importance of defense?
“To reiterate, on average, matches that finish without conceding a goal lead to an average of 2.5 points. I think that 2.5 points is a lot, so I think it is important not to concede a goal. We have to run in defense.I think we have improved in all aspects.I think the technical level has improved overall, and the speed of play when we have the ball is higher than before. Also, players who don't have the ball will be required to run faster than they used to."
(Every team wants to press high and win the ball, but what is the most important thing in high pressing?)
"Strength"
(I want you to tell me a little more about what kind of strength it is)
“Pressing starts on the first row. It can be a striker or a winger. In order to press effectively, that first row player has to go with a high intensity. The first is the timing of when to go to the press.The next thing is how to go aggressively.The next important thing is the cooperation between the players.The press must be organized, not individual play. No, and you have to be ready in all zones, your opponents may pass between the lines, they may use the sides, if you press, you can play long balls. He may kick behind, so the players on the defensive line must be able to defend with good positioning, good body orientation, and good distance.”
(Coach Mako is young at 33 years old, and I think he was coaching at a training organization when he was in his 20s?)
“Before coming to Japan, I worked in professional football for five years.Before that, I worked with the younger generation.”
(What kind of player were you when you were a player? What inspired you to become a coach?)
"To answer your last question first, I wasn't good enough as a player, so I wanted to be a coach. It's simple. It wasn't an injury. I wasn't technically good enough. I was about 20 or 21. At that time, I knew that I would not be able to become a professional soccer player, so I made the decision to remain in the world of soccer that I love. As a player, I was the type to work hard.”
(I think you are analyzing various teams in the J.League, but is there a team that you think is interesting in attack?)
“Sagan Tosu will make an interesting attack. They will attack with a build-up that is different from other teams.”
(Is there a team you think is interesting defensively?)
"It's the team with the fewest goals (laughs)."
(I think you've seen a lot of players so far, but what kind of player is suitable for centre-back?)
“First of all, we need players who can be aggressive on the pitch. They need to be able to win in the air, have speed, and can change direction quickly. It's a very good thing to have, and it's a plus to have a wider field of view to see different parts of the pitch, not just right next to you, but also behind the opponent's line."
(What about humanity?)
“I think being aggressive is also part of your personality.”
(In Japan, players who originally played as forwards sometimes convert to defenders, but are there any such ideas or examples in Poland?)
“I don’t remember much, but there is Lukasz Piszczek who played for Borussia Dortmund. I was playing right center back."
(I would like to ask about your relationship with Director Maciej. Please tell us about the length of your relationship, his personality, and how great his management is.)
“I met Maciej for the first time two years ago and put him in his coaching staff group. After working with Lev Poznan for a year, I came to Urawa Reds Maciej I think he's the director, he's a person who works with a very high level of motivation, and that motivation is contagious to those around him."
(Do you ever get praised or scolded by Maciej?)
"Of course I have feelings, so that's part of it. After working with us for a year like this, they asked me to come to the Reds, so I think they are satisfied with my job to some extent. I don't think I'm doing a perfect job, but I can't remember the scene where I got scolded (laughs)."
(Why did Coach Mako start playing soccer?)
“I think it has something to do with my family. My grandfather was a big soccer fan, so it was normal for me to watch soccer and think about soccer from an early age. I think I wanted to be one of those people."
(Who is your favorite club or player?)
“After becoming a coach, I no longer watch games from the fans’ point of view.
(What was your childhood dream?)
“I like Juventus, and my favorite player was Zinedine Zidane. Zidane joined the team, so I became a fan of Real Madrid (laughs).”
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
