NEWS
Manager Maciej Skorza post-match press conference against Kyoto
Meiji Yasuda Seimei J1 League, No.27 Kyoto Sanga F.C. Post-game comments
In the first half, as expected, Kyoto pressed very aggressively and high. Their pressing was so good that we could not do our usual build-up and they did not give us any space. We suffered in the first 30 minutes, but we had a plan to use longer balls to try to get behind them if they pressed hard. In the first half, I think we were able to make two decisive goals from such a shape. In particular, the Takahiro Sekine scene was a very good chance.
In the second half, we knew that space would become available, so we played more aggressively and at the same time tried to find and use space. I think we controlled the game very well and created chances. However, our decision making rate was not high in the final third today. We had four registered strikers on the pitch at the end, but we still failed to score a goal.
I think we need to be more calm in the penalty area. I don't know how I feel about losing two points at the end of the season. It is a very painful situation for us. However, there are other targets and many games left to play. We don't have time for regrets, so we will immediately prepare for China and head to the (AFC Champions League) match against Wuhan Sanzhen.
Overall, I think we did a good job, especially in the second half. We will take the positives into our next match."
[Q&A].
(Vissel Kobe has hardly won any direct matchups with the top teams, but now stands at the top of the table. Reds' record in direct confrontations with the top teams is not bad, but they are behind Kobe in terms of points. What do you think needs to be improved in this regard?)
It is not enough to just win the battles between the top teams in order to win the championship. I think we have to win games like today. I don't remember a game in which we made as many obvious decisions as we did today. If you ask me what we need to improve, I would say the finishing, but in a competitive game, such as the away game against Kyoto, we were struggling, but we were able to score two goals from FKs. So we cannot say that we cannot win in difficult games, but we must win more games like this.
(I think the cause of each match is different, but what do you want to grow in the total area?)
) "That's a tough question. When I think about how we did throughout the season, I don't think there is one single cause. I mentioned the finishing part earlier, but when I think about it throughout the season, I think it was a little difficult to keep the same level of consistency all the way through. First of all, at the beginning of the season, we had a losing start in the Yokohama F･Marinos and FC Tokyo rounds. Then, after the summer break, we lost to Nagoya Grampus in the Emperor's Cup and to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the league. However, we still have seven games left in the league, so we will play each game as if it were a final."
(Hiroki Sakai Why was the player replaced in the first half?)
Hiroki (Sakai) was not replaced for tactical reasons. He missed the last game due to medical reasons, but it is not serious. I am sure we will see him again in the near future. We knew before the match that Hiroki might be limited to 45 minutes in today's match.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
In the first half, as expected, Kyoto pressed very aggressively and high. Their pressing was so good that we could not do our usual build-up and they did not give us any space. We suffered in the first 30 minutes, but we had a plan to use longer balls to try to get behind them if they pressed hard. In the first half, I think we were able to make two decisive goals from such a shape. In particular, the Takahiro Sekine scene was a very good chance.
In the second half, we knew that space would become available, so we played more aggressively and at the same time tried to find and use space. I think we controlled the game very well and created chances. However, our decision making rate was not high in the final third today. We had four registered strikers on the pitch at the end, but we still failed to score a goal.
I think we need to be more calm in the penalty area. I don't know how I feel about losing two points at the end of the season. It is a very painful situation for us. However, there are other targets and many games left to play. We don't have time for regrets, so we will immediately prepare for China and head to the (AFC Champions League) match against Wuhan Sanzhen.
Overall, I think we did a good job, especially in the second half. We will take the positives into our next match."
[Q&A].
(Vissel Kobe has hardly won any direct matchups with the top teams, but now stands at the top of the table. Reds' record in direct confrontations with the top teams is not bad, but they are behind Kobe in terms of points. What do you think needs to be improved in this regard?)
It is not enough to just win the battles between the top teams in order to win the championship. I think we have to win games like today. I don't remember a game in which we made as many obvious decisions as we did today. If you ask me what we need to improve, I would say the finishing, but in a competitive game, such as the away game against Kyoto, we were struggling, but we were able to score two goals from FKs. So we cannot say that we cannot win in difficult games, but we must win more games like this.
(I think the cause of each match is different, but what do you want to grow in the total area?)
) "That's a tough question. When I think about how we did throughout the season, I don't think there is one single cause. I mentioned the finishing part earlier, but when I think about it throughout the season, I think it was a little difficult to keep the same level of consistency all the way through. First of all, at the beginning of the season, we had a losing start in the Yokohama F･Marinos and FC Tokyo rounds. Then, after the summer break, we lost to Nagoya Grampus in the Emperor's Cup and to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the league. However, we still have seven games left in the league, so we will play each game as if it were a final."
(Hiroki Sakai Why was the player replaced in the first half?)
Hiroki (Sakai) was not replaced for tactical reasons. He missed the last game due to medical reasons, but it is not serious. I am sure we will see him again in the near future. We knew before the match that Hiroki might be limited to 45 minutes in today's match.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
