NEWS
Sekine: “I want everyone to carve their name into the world so that people will say, ``Those days were great.''
We interviewed Takahiro Sekine in preparation for the FIFA Club World Cup.
From what I felt at the 2007 tournament when I was young, to my experiences in 2017, when I left the team midway through the season, and in 2019, when I came close to not being able to participate. A change in mindset when participating as a member of the Reds. His impressions of Club Leon, whom he will face in the quarterfinals on the 15th, his first match as a Reds, and his enthusiasm for the battle. And the pride and significance of taking on the challenge on the world stage as Urawa Reds.
Like Sekine, he spoke matter-of-factly from start to finish, and even though he sometimes joked, his words were filled with passion.
(I understand it as a fact that Sekine has never participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, but for some reason I feel like he has participated in the FIFA Club World Cup?)
``I've never been there (lol). But I'm often told that. Maybe it's because the players I played with were there. We hadn't even won the ACL (AFC Champions League) before. ”
(You were extremely focused on winning that ACL championship, but how motivated are you looking towards the FIFA Club World Cup, including the tournament that lies ahead?)
"I'm looking forward to it. I imagined it would be a tournament that I've enjoyed for a long time. It's been attracting attention for its festival-like atmosphere since it was held in Japan, and it's different from the ACL, and of course it's different from the J.League. .I represent each continent, so that's why I have a strong desire to win, but I also think it's like a reward for winning each country.I want to enjoy it.''
(What difference do you imagine it makes from ACL?)
``First of all, we are challengers in the Club World Cup. We are challengers in the ACL, but it was also a goal that we had to achieve. I believe that each match in the Club World Cup is an experience, and of course we have to win. It's a premise that I can't compete, but I think it's an environment that makes it easy to take on challenges.I think this is a tournament where you can measure how much you can do and how much the team can do.You have nothing to lose, and you can play to your heart's content. I think"
(Did you watch the 2017 tournament?)
``I don't think I had the environment to watch it.When it was held in Japan, I watched it on TV, but when it's held overseas, I feel like I don't know unless I'm there.But since it's being held in Saudi Arabia, It's a little easier to imagine.Although the city is different, we fought in the ACL.In that sense, it is a familiar place, and I can imagine it a little, but the opponent is the Mexican team that is the North Central American and Caribbean champion. .I’m excited to see what will happen.”
(Do you have an image of the Mexican team?)
``I imagine that the defense is not as organized as in Japan. However, I think they will use their individual strength to break things up, and I think they will defend with their individual strength. We can use our team strength to break down those defences, and defend. , I imagine that we can do that. We have to win, and I think Mexico is better than Japan in terms of soccer performance. In 2017, Al Jazeera participated in the host country slot. So I think we were swept off our feet. That hasn't happened this time, and Mexico should be strong. I think the team is highly motivated for the match against Club Leon."
(Do you remember the 2007 tournament in which the Reds were the first Japanese team to participate?)
“I was in the 6th grade of elementary school, and I was watching it on TV. I thought it was cool with the red, black, and black uniforms. After all, I was still an elementary school student (lol). I thought a lot about (Keisuke) Tsuboi. I still remember it. I had the image of Mr. Tsuboi working really hard. At the time, he wasn't a member of the Reds yet, and the opponent was AC Milan, but for me, it was like my dream teams were playing against each other. It was a feeling.It was my dream to become a player for Urawa Reds, and it was also my dream to play for an overseas club, so it was no wonder that these people were fighting. Now that I've become a player on the first team, I feel like my seniors were doing amazing things."
(The general impression was that the Reds were challenging a world-class team, but for Sekine, the Reds were also a team he admired, so it didn't feel strange?)
``Looking back on it now, it's no surprise, but at the time it wasn't surprising. Of course, I knew that there was excitement in Japan about the Reds playing against Milan and the J.League playing against Serie A teams. But in my mind, Urawa Reds was also a dream come true.I had to actually wear the Reds emblem and compete and finally stand on that stage, which I had done twice before. I think that’s amazing.”
(The Reds also participated in the 2017 tournament, but Sekine did not participate because he was transferred midway through the season and moved his career overseas.) Is it emotional for him to participate in the 10th year of his professional career? )
“That’s right. I really feel that. I can feel even more how difficult it is to come here now that I have injured my ACL. It's almost everyone's first time, and I'm no different from everyone else in that regard. It's an unknown world."
(You mentioned that it's easy to take on a challenge, but what kind of challenge do you specifically want to take on?)
"First of all, it's about individual ability. The most important thing is to see how much of what I've been doing up until now can be applied, and I want to get a feel for the intensity, physicality, and running ability on the ball."
(I think Sekine himself has grown a lot since the first half of 2017, when he competed with the team that won the ACL and participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, and from 2019, when he narrowly missed out on winning the ACL and participating in the FIFA Club World Cup.) )
``I want to take on the challenge of seeing how much I can make use of that experience.While there are some things like physical ability that I can't definitely win against, I've been working on how well I can play soccer by using my head, so I'm looking forward to seeing the difference in those aspects.'' I'm looking forward to seeing how effective it will be against even more intense opponents.It might be something other than what I imagined that makes me think, ``I can get there,'' and in terms of agility, I might be able to say, ``If I do this kind of movement, I can get through.'' Compared to Japan and other Asian countries, your opponent may be more likely to come and take you away or pass you in one shot, so tactics are also important, and you can use your tactics to outperform them. I think it may happen.”
(Although it is the last tournament of this season, is it likely to lead to next year?)
``Rather than connecting to next year, I think it will be a good experience in each individual's soccer career.The coach and team will change, so I don't know how it will connect to next year, but I think it will be a good experience for each of us in our soccer lives. I think it's very important.I think I've had a lot of experiences, like being able to experience the ACL final and losing in the (YBC) Levain Cup final, but I don't know when I'll live through those experiences in my soccer career. I'm sure I'll remember this and live my life if I ever find myself in a situation like that, so I don't think there's a single negative factor.''
(In this year's ACL final, I think that Sekine's use of his 2019 experience and sharing it with those around him was a major factor in their victory, and I don't think they would have won the championship without Sekine. Does that mean it's important to have experience?)
``On the other hand, maybe we won in 2017 because he disappeared midway through.It makes a big difference just whether one player is there or not.When we win, it's better to be there, and when we win without him. If so, then that would have been a good thing. It's difficult to evaluate whether it was because he was there or not."
(However, I could see Sekine's enthusiasm for the ACL final even by watching from outside.)
"I think that's true, and it's important where you show your power. The same can be said for the J League as well. This year, everything was decided in the game against (Vissel) Kobe, but how much power can you use there? I think I was able to use it.It's just a matter of how much effort I can give out of the things I've built up.There are always important games throughout the season, and even though all of them are important, there are even more important games. .I think you need experience in order to demonstrate your abilities there.”
(Will this FIFA Club World Cup be a similar experience?)
``I won't know until I try to fight, but it might happen, and I'm looking forward to that as well.My experience in the ACL may come in handy.When I play against foreign athletes, The experience I had playing in the World Cup will stay with me, and this Club World Cup may lead to that kind of thing."
(Maybe that overseas experience will be useful for this FIFA Club World Cup?)
"Although we lost. In 2019."
(In 2019, we lost in the ACL final, but we took revenge this year and grabbed a ticket to the world stage.)
"That's what it means. If I had lost again in the final, my career might have been over (lol). That's how I fought."
(How do you feel about playing for Urawa Reds on the world stage that you gained as a result of fighting with such passion?)
"I'm proud. Not only in 2017, but also in 2019, there have been so many changes in the lineup, and I think it's a matter of pride to be able to compete against the world with the new Urawa Reds. Someday, I'll say, 'That lineup in 2023, that lineup. I want everyone to carve their name into the world so people can say, ``Those were the good times, weren't they?''
(Isn't it amazing that Urawa Reds are still able to stand on the world stage even with so many changes in members?)
``That's why I had two faces when I appeared in 2017 (lol).That's why I think Shinzo (Koroki) and Shu-chan (Shusaku Nishikawa) are amazing.Even with so many changes in the members, Asia If you come to the Reds, you have a chance to play in the ACL and play in the Club World Cup.A club with that kind of brand power. I want to become the best player in the world, and I also want to spread the name of Urawa Reds at the Club World Cup."
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 Special Site
https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/game/special/club_worldcup_2023/
From what I felt at the 2007 tournament when I was young, to my experiences in 2017, when I left the team midway through the season, and in 2019, when I came close to not being able to participate. A change in mindset when participating as a member of the Reds. His impressions of Club Leon, whom he will face in the quarterfinals on the 15th, his first match as a Reds, and his enthusiasm for the battle. And the pride and significance of taking on the challenge on the world stage as Urawa Reds.
Like Sekine, he spoke matter-of-factly from start to finish, and even though he sometimes joked, his words were filled with passion.
(I understand it as a fact that Sekine has never participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, but for some reason I feel like he has participated in the FIFA Club World Cup?)
``I've never been there (lol). But I'm often told that. Maybe it's because the players I played with were there. We hadn't even won the ACL (AFC Champions League) before. ”
(You were extremely focused on winning that ACL championship, but how motivated are you looking towards the FIFA Club World Cup, including the tournament that lies ahead?)
"I'm looking forward to it. I imagined it would be a tournament that I've enjoyed for a long time. It's been attracting attention for its festival-like atmosphere since it was held in Japan, and it's different from the ACL, and of course it's different from the J.League. .I represent each continent, so that's why I have a strong desire to win, but I also think it's like a reward for winning each country.I want to enjoy it.''
(What difference do you imagine it makes from ACL?)
``First of all, we are challengers in the Club World Cup. We are challengers in the ACL, but it was also a goal that we had to achieve. I believe that each match in the Club World Cup is an experience, and of course we have to win. It's a premise that I can't compete, but I think it's an environment that makes it easy to take on challenges.I think this is a tournament where you can measure how much you can do and how much the team can do.You have nothing to lose, and you can play to your heart's content. I think"
(Did you watch the 2017 tournament?)
``I don't think I had the environment to watch it.When it was held in Japan, I watched it on TV, but when it's held overseas, I feel like I don't know unless I'm there.But since it's being held in Saudi Arabia, It's a little easier to imagine.Although the city is different, we fought in the ACL.In that sense, it is a familiar place, and I can imagine it a little, but the opponent is the Mexican team that is the North Central American and Caribbean champion. .I’m excited to see what will happen.”
(Do you have an image of the Mexican team?)
``I imagine that the defense is not as organized as in Japan. However, I think they will use their individual strength to break things up, and I think they will defend with their individual strength. We can use our team strength to break down those defences, and defend. , I imagine that we can do that. We have to win, and I think Mexico is better than Japan in terms of soccer performance. In 2017, Al Jazeera participated in the host country slot. So I think we were swept off our feet. That hasn't happened this time, and Mexico should be strong. I think the team is highly motivated for the match against Club Leon."
(Do you remember the 2007 tournament in which the Reds were the first Japanese team to participate?)
“I was in the 6th grade of elementary school, and I was watching it on TV. I thought it was cool with the red, black, and black uniforms. After all, I was still an elementary school student (lol). I thought a lot about (Keisuke) Tsuboi. I still remember it. I had the image of Mr. Tsuboi working really hard. At the time, he wasn't a member of the Reds yet, and the opponent was AC Milan, but for me, it was like my dream teams were playing against each other. It was a feeling.It was my dream to become a player for Urawa Reds, and it was also my dream to play for an overseas club, so it was no wonder that these people were fighting. Now that I've become a player on the first team, I feel like my seniors were doing amazing things."
(The general impression was that the Reds were challenging a world-class team, but for Sekine, the Reds were also a team he admired, so it didn't feel strange?)
``Looking back on it now, it's no surprise, but at the time it wasn't surprising. Of course, I knew that there was excitement in Japan about the Reds playing against Milan and the J.League playing against Serie A teams. But in my mind, Urawa Reds was also a dream come true.I had to actually wear the Reds emblem and compete and finally stand on that stage, which I had done twice before. I think that’s amazing.”
(The Reds also participated in the 2017 tournament, but Sekine did not participate because he was transferred midway through the season and moved his career overseas.) Is it emotional for him to participate in the 10th year of his professional career? )
“That’s right. I really feel that. I can feel even more how difficult it is to come here now that I have injured my ACL. It's almost everyone's first time, and I'm no different from everyone else in that regard. It's an unknown world."
(You mentioned that it's easy to take on a challenge, but what kind of challenge do you specifically want to take on?)
"First of all, it's about individual ability. The most important thing is to see how much of what I've been doing up until now can be applied, and I want to get a feel for the intensity, physicality, and running ability on the ball."
(I think Sekine himself has grown a lot since the first half of 2017, when he competed with the team that won the ACL and participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, and from 2019, when he narrowly missed out on winning the ACL and participating in the FIFA Club World Cup.) )
``I want to take on the challenge of seeing how much I can make use of that experience.While there are some things like physical ability that I can't definitely win against, I've been working on how well I can play soccer by using my head, so I'm looking forward to seeing the difference in those aspects.'' I'm looking forward to seeing how effective it will be against even more intense opponents.It might be something other than what I imagined that makes me think, ``I can get there,'' and in terms of agility, I might be able to say, ``If I do this kind of movement, I can get through.'' Compared to Japan and other Asian countries, your opponent may be more likely to come and take you away or pass you in one shot, so tactics are also important, and you can use your tactics to outperform them. I think it may happen.”
(Although it is the last tournament of this season, is it likely to lead to next year?)
``Rather than connecting to next year, I think it will be a good experience in each individual's soccer career.The coach and team will change, so I don't know how it will connect to next year, but I think it will be a good experience for each of us in our soccer lives. I think it's very important.I think I've had a lot of experiences, like being able to experience the ACL final and losing in the (YBC) Levain Cup final, but I don't know when I'll live through those experiences in my soccer career. I'm sure I'll remember this and live my life if I ever find myself in a situation like that, so I don't think there's a single negative factor.''
(In this year's ACL final, I think that Sekine's use of his 2019 experience and sharing it with those around him was a major factor in their victory, and I don't think they would have won the championship without Sekine. Does that mean it's important to have experience?)
``On the other hand, maybe we won in 2017 because he disappeared midway through.It makes a big difference just whether one player is there or not.When we win, it's better to be there, and when we win without him. If so, then that would have been a good thing. It's difficult to evaluate whether it was because he was there or not."
(However, I could see Sekine's enthusiasm for the ACL final even by watching from outside.)
"I think that's true, and it's important where you show your power. The same can be said for the J League as well. This year, everything was decided in the game against (Vissel) Kobe, but how much power can you use there? I think I was able to use it.It's just a matter of how much effort I can give out of the things I've built up.There are always important games throughout the season, and even though all of them are important, there are even more important games. .I think you need experience in order to demonstrate your abilities there.”
(Will this FIFA Club World Cup be a similar experience?)
``I won't know until I try to fight, but it might happen, and I'm looking forward to that as well.My experience in the ACL may come in handy.When I play against foreign athletes, The experience I had playing in the World Cup will stay with me, and this Club World Cup may lead to that kind of thing."
(Maybe that overseas experience will be useful for this FIFA Club World Cup?)
"Although we lost. In 2019."
(In 2019, we lost in the ACL final, but we took revenge this year and grabbed a ticket to the world stage.)
"That's what it means. If I had lost again in the final, my career might have been over (lol). That's how I fought."
(How do you feel about playing for Urawa Reds on the world stage that you gained as a result of fighting with such passion?)
"I'm proud. Not only in 2017, but also in 2019, there have been so many changes in the lineup, and I think it's a matter of pride to be able to compete against the world with the new Urawa Reds. Someday, I'll say, 'That lineup in 2023, that lineup. I want everyone to carve their name into the world so people can say, ``Those were the good times, weren't they?''
(Isn't it amazing that Urawa Reds are still able to stand on the world stage even with so many changes in members?)
``That's why I had two faces when I appeared in 2017 (lol).That's why I think Shinzo (Koroki) and Shu-chan (Shusaku Nishikawa) are amazing.Even with so many changes in the members, Asia If you come to the Reds, you have a chance to play in the ACL and play in the Club World Cup.A club with that kind of brand power. I want to become the best player in the world, and I also want to spread the name of Urawa Reds at the Club World Cup."
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 Special Site
https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/game/special/club_worldcup_2023/
