NEWS
Koizumi: “It is important to fight with courage”
On the 11th, after the first match of the J League YBC Levain Cup Prime Stage Semi-Finals against Yokohama F･Marinos, Yoshio Koizumi talked about her impressions of the match and her enthusiasm for a comeback in the second match at Saitama Stadium.
``I was able to set up well in the zone and defend well, but if I'm forced into the zone for too long, the probability of an accident like that will increase, so it's not so much about the hand, but the fact that I was pushed too far before that. There is no problem with a cross from a far position where there is less pressure on the ball, but this kind of thing happens when a cross is raised from a close position.However, today's result was not due to that. We had several chances to score goals but couldn't convert them, and I think we need to control the game a little more when we were holding the ball and pushing it."
(He was able to take the initiative, but did he become a receiver?)
``I haven't been able to catch up. I don't have to press everything from the front and get hooked, and I can definitely create blocks during periods, and that in itself wasn't bad. I think there were times when it became difficult to put pressure on me."
(Will the team be able to return home with the least number of goals conceded?)
“Of course we wanted to catch up, but we also wanted to avoid taking too many risks in the final stages and conceding another goal, and if we can go home with a minimum score of 0-1, we can start to see how we can fight. We can improve our front-line pressing a little more, and if we can do that, I think we can create more chances.”
(Will counters be the main form of attack?)
``With today's opponent, it's natural that there will be more counterattacks, and that's not a problem in itself.It's tough if we score one point first, so we tried to push once at 0-0 and then took deep positions. I think it's important to create more time to play to the side."
(In addition to Hiroki Sakai, who was sent off in today's game, the injured Jumpei Hayakawa may not be able to play in the second match.)
``I don't know what will happen with Hayakawa, but even if he can't play, we have (Yota) Horiuchi.Horiuchi has been playing well since regular practice, and everyone knows that. I think that if he can do his best, he will be able to handle the situation without any problems.As for Sakai, I think his best presence is that he can put his energy into it mentally, and that he can clearly show strong energy. I think it's important for everyone to figure out how to take advantage of that loss.We may lose some things in terms of tactics and play because of Sakai's absence, but I think there are also things we can gain by not relying on Sakai. I think it is important to see how strong we can fight mentally without Sakai.”
(Wouldn't the team be tested by Sakai's absence in an important match?)
“We will be tested as a team in situations where we have a lot of injuries and without Sakai.We lost the first game 0-1 and will face the same opponent again on Sunday, so our rebounding mentality will be tested. Personally, I want to be inspired by what I can do in times like this.”
(Is there anything specific you can say about ``What can I personally do at a time like this?'')
``Depending on which position you play, it's a game where you have to do a lot of defensive work, and given the nature of your opponent, that's the most efficient thing to do.We did that with tenacity, and today we played against Yasui (Kaito). I think the players have also done this, but the defense of the wide and half zones is very important.I think it's about how to go forward and compete while also completing that task.Rewards for persevering. I want to continue fighting so as not to neglect or miss out on such things.I think there are many players, such as Yasui, who would be happy to receive such a reward, and in such a place. I hope they can start over.It's only the first half, and even if it's 0-0 until the 89th minute in the next 90 minutes, if they score one point with one minute left, it's overtime.What kind of plan do we have as a team? It will be decided from now on, and there is a possibility that we will fight to score points no matter what, or we may play that we only need to score one point in the 89th minute, but either way, we will work as a team. I believe that if we fight with the same determination, we will have more opportunities.I think that's what it comes down to.''
(I hear that the atmosphere in the locker room changes depending on whether Sakai is in the squad or not. Is there anything you would like to work on to create an atmosphere that goes beyond just on the pitch?)
``There is no doubt that Sakai is a big presence in the locker room, but I am a different type of person, so I don't have the mindset of filling in for Sakai.The whole team will share a little bit, and each person will gain courage little by little.'' I think it's important to fight."
(I think there is a possibility that Yokohama F･Marinos will solidify their block since they are in the lead after 90 minutes.)
“No. Definitely not for Yokohama F. Marinos situation continued to be a stalemate today, and if anything, I think we had more chances, so I think there is a possibility that the same will happen in the second match. That's why we need to fight tenaciously.Then we need to unite our will on how to fight as a team and fight without any discrepancies.''
(The Reds fans and supporters were cheering for me right after the game ended, but I guess that gives me courage?)
``It was a fight where we squeezed out all our strength, so there was some damage, but I think this is a test to see if we can recover from that, and the fans and supporters will also watch to see who will fight in such situations. I think there are many. I will do my best to respond to the wishes of my fans and supporters.”
Other comments and match photos can be viewed on the site members.
■Click here for site members (330 yen per month/tax included) → https://sp.urawa-reds.co.jp/
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[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
``I was able to set up well in the zone and defend well, but if I'm forced into the zone for too long, the probability of an accident like that will increase, so it's not so much about the hand, but the fact that I was pushed too far before that. There is no problem with a cross from a far position where there is less pressure on the ball, but this kind of thing happens when a cross is raised from a close position.However, today's result was not due to that. We had several chances to score goals but couldn't convert them, and I think we need to control the game a little more when we were holding the ball and pushing it."
(He was able to take the initiative, but did he become a receiver?)
``I haven't been able to catch up. I don't have to press everything from the front and get hooked, and I can definitely create blocks during periods, and that in itself wasn't bad. I think there were times when it became difficult to put pressure on me."
(Will the team be able to return home with the least number of goals conceded?)
“Of course we wanted to catch up, but we also wanted to avoid taking too many risks in the final stages and conceding another goal, and if we can go home with a minimum score of 0-1, we can start to see how we can fight. We can improve our front-line pressing a little more, and if we can do that, I think we can create more chances.”
(Will counters be the main form of attack?)
``With today's opponent, it's natural that there will be more counterattacks, and that's not a problem in itself.It's tough if we score one point first, so we tried to push once at 0-0 and then took deep positions. I think it's important to create more time to play to the side."
(In addition to Hiroki Sakai, who was sent off in today's game, the injured Jumpei Hayakawa may not be able to play in the second match.)
``I don't know what will happen with Hayakawa, but even if he can't play, we have (Yota) Horiuchi.Horiuchi has been playing well since regular practice, and everyone knows that. I think that if he can do his best, he will be able to handle the situation without any problems.As for Sakai, I think his best presence is that he can put his energy into it mentally, and that he can clearly show strong energy. I think it's important for everyone to figure out how to take advantage of that loss.We may lose some things in terms of tactics and play because of Sakai's absence, but I think there are also things we can gain by not relying on Sakai. I think it is important to see how strong we can fight mentally without Sakai.”
(Wouldn't the team be tested by Sakai's absence in an important match?)
“We will be tested as a team in situations where we have a lot of injuries and without Sakai.We lost the first game 0-1 and will face the same opponent again on Sunday, so our rebounding mentality will be tested. Personally, I want to be inspired by what I can do in times like this.”
(Is there anything specific you can say about ``What can I personally do at a time like this?'')
``Depending on which position you play, it's a game where you have to do a lot of defensive work, and given the nature of your opponent, that's the most efficient thing to do.We did that with tenacity, and today we played against Yasui (Kaito). I think the players have also done this, but the defense of the wide and half zones is very important.I think it's about how to go forward and compete while also completing that task.Rewards for persevering. I want to continue fighting so as not to neglect or miss out on such things.I think there are many players, such as Yasui, who would be happy to receive such a reward, and in such a place. I hope they can start over.It's only the first half, and even if it's 0-0 until the 89th minute in the next 90 minutes, if they score one point with one minute left, it's overtime.What kind of plan do we have as a team? It will be decided from now on, and there is a possibility that we will fight to score points no matter what, or we may play that we only need to score one point in the 89th minute, but either way, we will work as a team. I believe that if we fight with the same determination, we will have more opportunities.I think that's what it comes down to.''
(I hear that the atmosphere in the locker room changes depending on whether Sakai is in the squad or not. Is there anything you would like to work on to create an atmosphere that goes beyond just on the pitch?)
``There is no doubt that Sakai is a big presence in the locker room, but I am a different type of person, so I don't have the mindset of filling in for Sakai.The whole team will share a little bit, and each person will gain courage little by little.'' I think it's important to fight."
(I think there is a possibility that Yokohama F･Marinos will solidify their block since they are in the lead after 90 minutes.)
“No. Definitely not for Yokohama F. Marinos situation continued to be a stalemate today, and if anything, I think we had more chances, so I think there is a possibility that the same will happen in the second match. That's why we need to fight tenaciously.Then we need to unite our will on how to fight as a team and fight without any discrepancies.''
(The Reds fans and supporters were cheering for me right after the game ended, but I guess that gives me courage?)
``It was a fight where we squeezed out all our strength, so there was some damage, but I think this is a test to see if we can recover from that, and the fans and supporters will also watch to see who will fight in such situations. I think there are many. I will do my best to respond to the wishes of my fans and supporters.”
Other comments and match photos can be viewed on the site members.
■Click here for site members (330 yen per month/tax included) → https://sp.urawa-reds.co.jp/
*REX CLUB LOYALTY members can use it for free.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
