NEWS
2023JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ 決勝 前日公式記者会見
On November 3, an official press conference was held at the National Stadium the day before the 2023 J League YBC Levain Cup final. Urawa Reds' manager Maciej Skorza and Hiroki Sakai Sakai, and Avispa Fukuoka manager Shigetoshi Hasebe and player Tatsuki Nara were in attendance and expressed their enthusiasm for the next day's final match.
(I have a question for both coaches. What have you done to prepare and adjust for tomorrow's final?)
Director Hasebe
``We are talking about trying to bring out what we have accumulated so that we can not only compete in tomorrow's game, but also in the game in front of us with maximum output, and we want to go through training and conditioning before taking on the challenge. I have been doing so.”
Director Maciej
“With so many back-to-back games this season, we were lucky to finally have a week to prepare for this special game for us. Of course we had a game plan in place and from the get-go, We want to control the game, but we are playing a very organized and tough Avispa team, so I think it will be a difficult match."
(I have a question for both managers. They have played against each other in the J1 League this season, but what are their impressions of each other?)
Director Hasebe
``My impression after playing against them was that they were a team with a high level of skill and a group that demonstrated their skills at a high level in both defense and attack.Also, even though they are competing in the ACL (AFC Champions League), I think they are a team that is at a high level. I get the impression that they are increasing their strength.”
Director Maciej
"Looking at Avispa in the second half of this season, I don't think they could have faced a tougher opponent in the final. I think this is a team that has continued to grow throughout the season, and it's hard to find any weak points."
(I have a question for Nara. This will be Fukuoka's first battle for the title, but how is the atmosphere of the team?)
``Up until today's practice, everyone was cheerful and trained in the same atmosphere as usual.I think the excitement for each special match will continue to grow over the next day.Me too. It's my first time competing in the finals, so I want to prepare well and be in a good state of mind."
(I have a question for Nara. Tomorrow's final will be important from the start of the match, so what do you want to pay attention to?)
"It's a really special match, the final, and I think it's going to be a great atmosphere, and at the same time, an atmosphere that most of the players have never experienced. We're going to see if we can show our true selves in that atmosphere. However, I think it's important not to get caught up in that atmosphere."
(I have a question for Sakai. How is the team's atmosphere as they prepare to win the YBC Levain Cup, which will be the Reds' first in seven years?)
``I think the atmosphere is good, and the final stage is the best stage for soccer players, so we want to do our best tomorrow.And we hope that many fans and supporters will come. I believe in this, so I want everyone to play responsibly so that Urawa Reds fans and supporters go home with smiles on their faces."
(I have a question for Sakai. This will be the final, which will be the second title of the season after the AFC Champions League. What are your thoughts going into this?)
``The tournaments are different, so we want to keep that aspect separate.The opponents are also different.As coach Maciej said earlier, it's difficult to find weaknesses in this team, so we need to keep the games competitive. I think so, and I want to prepare properly. It's my first time playing against Avispa Fukuoka, so I'm looking forward to that as well."
(I have a question for Coach Hasebe and Nara players.While there are few players who have experienced the final, it is expected that there will be more Urawa supporters, so what do you think will be important to maintain composure among them? mosquito?)
Director Hasegawa
"My feeling is, don't worry about it. Have fun. Think of cheering for red as cheering for blue. I don't think you need to worry about that much. I don't really care. Avispa's cheering team It's coming, and I just feel like it's going to be 10 times bigger. I just don't care."
Nara player
``The director said not to worry about it, so don't worry about it.It's not a stage that everyone can stand on, so I'm going to do my best to enjoy the atmosphere on this prestigious stage and try to fit myself into the atmosphere.'' I would like"
(I have a question for Nara. He won the YBC Levain Cup when he was with Kawasaki Frontale, but he didn't play in the final. How did you feel looking back at that time?)
``Although I couldn't stand on the pitch, I was happy that we were able to win while fighting as a team, but 80% or 20% was disappointed.However, we all had fought together to get there. The same is true in Fukuoka now.A lot of players stood on the pitch and fought until the finals, so it doesn't really matter whether they are playing or not.I want to play with a sense of unity. think"
(A question for everyone. I hear from the Fukuoka players that it is ``like Avispa,'' and from the Reds players, ``fight like a Reds.'') What does each person think is ``like Reds,'' what is ``like Avispa?'' )
Director Maciej
“Rather than preparing anything special for this game, we want to show the best of what we've worked on over the months this season so far. We're analyzing the situation and coming up with a game plan, and there are some things we'll change from the last game. I think we'll have a very interesting challenge tomorrow."
Sakai
``I think it's best for everyone watching from the outside to judge, but we're trying to update everything, and rather than trying to be Urawa Reds, we want to win every game in front of us as Urawa Reds. , I think our players are fighting with a sense of responsibility to win many titles. Even if we haven't played as well as we wanted this season, I think we've been able to make it this far without dropping any points. That's what we do. I think it’s the uniqueness of the person.”
Director Hasebe
``In terms of Avispa's style, I use the word aggressive in terms of play, and over the past few years we have continued to update our results and records.Including the fact that we just reached the finals. We believe that this is what makes us who we are.In order to implement this and achieve results, the players, staff, and club always work together as one to play difficult games, difficult opponents, strong teams, strong clubs, and big clubs. Most of the time we play against each other. Many of our games are like that, but we boldly challenge such teams and clubs. I think that's what Avispa is all about."
Nara player
``Rather than being an outstanding individual, I think what makes Avispa unique is that we work hard as a team, attack as a team, defend as a team, and have a sense of unity.It's not just the players. The sense of unity of everyone, including the staff and supporters, is what makes Avispa unique this year, and as it has always been the case, I think we have continued to do so this year as well.''
(I have a question for Nara. If we win tomorrow, we will win the title for the first time in Fukuoka club history. Do you have an image of lifting the championship cup?)
``The stance we have taken so far is to have everyone give 100% to the game in front of us, and to do everything we can to win. The match is in front of us, and we want everyone to fight as one to win the match, and there are things like that ahead of us, but first of all, we need to focus on the opponent that is in front of us, a strong and big opponent. I want everyone to work toward that goal.I think trophies are like a reward, so first I want to focus on winning soccer games.''
In addition, after the official press conference, the 2023 J League YBC Levain Cup New Hero Award ceremony was held, with award-winning player Jumpei Hayakawa in attendance.
Hayakawa was presented with a New Hero Award of 500,000 yen and a crystal ornament by Koichiro Iijima, director and marketing manager of Yamazaki Biscuit Co., Ltd., the tournament's title partner, and once again expressed his joy at winning the award.
[Jumpei Hayakawa]
“I am very honored to receive the prestigious New Hero Award.I could not have won it on my own, and I am grateful to all the players, coaching staff, fans, and supporters. In order to live up to this award, I will continue to play responsibly throughout my professional career, including tomorrow's final.''
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
(I have a question for both coaches. What have you done to prepare and adjust for tomorrow's final?)
Director Hasebe
``We are talking about trying to bring out what we have accumulated so that we can not only compete in tomorrow's game, but also in the game in front of us with maximum output, and we want to go through training and conditioning before taking on the challenge. I have been doing so.”
Director Maciej
“With so many back-to-back games this season, we were lucky to finally have a week to prepare for this special game for us. Of course we had a game plan in place and from the get-go, We want to control the game, but we are playing a very organized and tough Avispa team, so I think it will be a difficult match."
(I have a question for both managers. They have played against each other in the J1 League this season, but what are their impressions of each other?)
Director Hasebe
``My impression after playing against them was that they were a team with a high level of skill and a group that demonstrated their skills at a high level in both defense and attack.Also, even though they are competing in the ACL (AFC Champions League), I think they are a team that is at a high level. I get the impression that they are increasing their strength.”
Director Maciej
"Looking at Avispa in the second half of this season, I don't think they could have faced a tougher opponent in the final. I think this is a team that has continued to grow throughout the season, and it's hard to find any weak points."
(I have a question for Nara. This will be Fukuoka's first battle for the title, but how is the atmosphere of the team?)
``Up until today's practice, everyone was cheerful and trained in the same atmosphere as usual.I think the excitement for each special match will continue to grow over the next day.Me too. It's my first time competing in the finals, so I want to prepare well and be in a good state of mind."
(I have a question for Nara. Tomorrow's final will be important from the start of the match, so what do you want to pay attention to?)
"It's a really special match, the final, and I think it's going to be a great atmosphere, and at the same time, an atmosphere that most of the players have never experienced. We're going to see if we can show our true selves in that atmosphere. However, I think it's important not to get caught up in that atmosphere."
(I have a question for Sakai. How is the team's atmosphere as they prepare to win the YBC Levain Cup, which will be the Reds' first in seven years?)
``I think the atmosphere is good, and the final stage is the best stage for soccer players, so we want to do our best tomorrow.And we hope that many fans and supporters will come. I believe in this, so I want everyone to play responsibly so that Urawa Reds fans and supporters go home with smiles on their faces."
(I have a question for Sakai. This will be the final, which will be the second title of the season after the AFC Champions League. What are your thoughts going into this?)
``The tournaments are different, so we want to keep that aspect separate.The opponents are also different.As coach Maciej said earlier, it's difficult to find weaknesses in this team, so we need to keep the games competitive. I think so, and I want to prepare properly. It's my first time playing against Avispa Fukuoka, so I'm looking forward to that as well."
(I have a question for Coach Hasebe and Nara players.While there are few players who have experienced the final, it is expected that there will be more Urawa supporters, so what do you think will be important to maintain composure among them? mosquito?)
Director Hasegawa
"My feeling is, don't worry about it. Have fun. Think of cheering for red as cheering for blue. I don't think you need to worry about that much. I don't really care. Avispa's cheering team It's coming, and I just feel like it's going to be 10 times bigger. I just don't care."
Nara player
``The director said not to worry about it, so don't worry about it.It's not a stage that everyone can stand on, so I'm going to do my best to enjoy the atmosphere on this prestigious stage and try to fit myself into the atmosphere.'' I would like"
(I have a question for Nara. He won the YBC Levain Cup when he was with Kawasaki Frontale, but he didn't play in the final. How did you feel looking back at that time?)
``Although I couldn't stand on the pitch, I was happy that we were able to win while fighting as a team, but 80% or 20% was disappointed.However, we all had fought together to get there. The same is true in Fukuoka now.A lot of players stood on the pitch and fought until the finals, so it doesn't really matter whether they are playing or not.I want to play with a sense of unity. think"
(A question for everyone. I hear from the Fukuoka players that it is ``like Avispa,'' and from the Reds players, ``fight like a Reds.'') What does each person think is ``like Reds,'' what is ``like Avispa?'' )
Director Maciej
“Rather than preparing anything special for this game, we want to show the best of what we've worked on over the months this season so far. We're analyzing the situation and coming up with a game plan, and there are some things we'll change from the last game. I think we'll have a very interesting challenge tomorrow."
Sakai
``I think it's best for everyone watching from the outside to judge, but we're trying to update everything, and rather than trying to be Urawa Reds, we want to win every game in front of us as Urawa Reds. , I think our players are fighting with a sense of responsibility to win many titles. Even if we haven't played as well as we wanted this season, I think we've been able to make it this far without dropping any points. That's what we do. I think it’s the uniqueness of the person.”
Director Hasebe
``In terms of Avispa's style, I use the word aggressive in terms of play, and over the past few years we have continued to update our results and records.Including the fact that we just reached the finals. We believe that this is what makes us who we are.In order to implement this and achieve results, the players, staff, and club always work together as one to play difficult games, difficult opponents, strong teams, strong clubs, and big clubs. Most of the time we play against each other. Many of our games are like that, but we boldly challenge such teams and clubs. I think that's what Avispa is all about."
Nara player
``Rather than being an outstanding individual, I think what makes Avispa unique is that we work hard as a team, attack as a team, defend as a team, and have a sense of unity.It's not just the players. The sense of unity of everyone, including the staff and supporters, is what makes Avispa unique this year, and as it has always been the case, I think we have continued to do so this year as well.''
(I have a question for Nara. If we win tomorrow, we will win the title for the first time in Fukuoka club history. Do you have an image of lifting the championship cup?)
``The stance we have taken so far is to have everyone give 100% to the game in front of us, and to do everything we can to win. The match is in front of us, and we want everyone to fight as one to win the match, and there are things like that ahead of us, but first of all, we need to focus on the opponent that is in front of us, a strong and big opponent. I want everyone to work toward that goal.I think trophies are like a reward, so first I want to focus on winning soccer games.''
In addition, after the official press conference, the 2023 J League YBC Levain Cup New Hero Award ceremony was held, with award-winning player Jumpei Hayakawa in attendance.
Hayakawa was presented with a New Hero Award of 500,000 yen and a crystal ornament by Koichiro Iijima, director and marketing manager of Yamazaki Biscuit Co., Ltd., the tournament's title partner, and once again expressed his joy at winning the award.
[Jumpei Hayakawa]
“I am very honored to receive the prestigious New Hero Award.I could not have won it on my own, and I am grateful to all the players, coaching staff, fans, and supporters. In order to live up to this award, I will continue to play responsibly throughout my professional career, including tomorrow's final.''
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
