NEWS
"We want to deliver three points in the last match of the summer break" -Per-Mathias Hoegmo (regular press conference 8/23)
On the 23rd, Per-Mathias Hoegmo held an online press conference, where he spoke about his enthusiasm for the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 28 match against Kawasaki Frontale [MATCH PARTNER Mitsubishi Heavy Industries] to be held at Saitama Stadium on Saturday, August 24th.
"Hello everyone. This week I was able to train with almost all of the players. There are some players who still need to improve physically. My request to the players is not to do a good job once or twice, but to keep doing a good job throughout the entire game. I also select the starters and bench members with that in mind. Yesterday we canceled practice and took a day off. The reason is that we conducted very high-intensity training on Tuesday and Wednesday. We conducted high-intensity training in very hot weather. Training in hot weather adds 20 percent to the load, so we took yesterday off to conserve our energy for the game. The next match is the last match of the summer holidays for the children, so I hope they will come to the stadium and enjoy themselves. I hope we can play a good game and deliver three points."
(In the previous match against Kashima Antlers, the players seemed more motivated than in the previous few matches. Did you notice any changes, Coach Matthias?)
"As I said before, instead of just doing the job once, twice or even three times, we are asking the players to keep doing it throughout the game, and this is what we are asking of them mentally and physically. Also, the condition of players returning from injury is improving. As injured players return, the competition within the team has intensified. I think the players fought with a very good attitude. However, this is an attitude that needs to be shown in every game, and we need to make sure that it doesn't fade at any moment during the game."
(At the last press conference, you mentioned that in the last three away games, you have only conceded one goal from a penalty kick. What is the main reason for your recent defensive stability?)
"Looking at our last seven games, we conceded two goals against Shonan Bellmare. We conceded four goals against (Hokkaido) Consadole (Sapporo), one towards the end of the first half and one early in the second half. In the other five games, we have only conceded one goal from a penalty kick. From a tactical standpoint, we have been emphasizing a 4-4-2 zone defense since the Nagoya match. We are also working on details in small groups or as a team as a whole in our daily training. I think we are definitely getting better. Another reason is that players like (Tomo) (Tomoaki Okubo) and (Takahiro Sekine), who have been active as wingers on both offense and defense since last year, have returned. So there is not just one reason for our improvement. There are areas where we have improved as a team, and I think that each player has improved in individual areas as well."
(In the match against Kashima, in a 4-4-2 block, I think you were more stable when you waited a little lower than the middle zone, but I think it would be good balance to revive the moment when you took the ball back the moment the attack ended, with the whole team in a higher position, as was probably the case in the first half of the season. I think there is a certain order, but what do you think about the team's future progress in that respect?)
"Exactly. We want to apply high pressure for as long as possible during a match, especially immediately after losing the ball. We also want to apply high pressure to take advantage of the opponent's goal kicks and low throw-ins. This is physically and tactically demanding, so it will take time to execute to a certain extent. I don't want to use this as an excuse, but we have had players transferred or injured, and we have had to change our lineup quite a bit. I think that this has caused us to lack stability in some areas. However, if we can firmly grasp the principle of the zone, I think it is possible to apply pressure at any height. As you said, we are currently sometimes moving out from a mid block or low block, but we are also working on taking a step back to move forward."
(Regarding the selection of wingers, I think the good thing about Okubo and Sekine is that they can return to where they need to be when the opponent has the ball, but on the other hand, I think there are many players who are destructive when they have the ball. I think there is an aspect where you need to encourage Okubo and Sekine to do better offensively, and an aspect where you need to get the offensively good players to defend better. Where do you think the balance is in that regard?)
"Exactly. I think that's an important analysis. Offensive players also need to be able to defend well, and when you look at international-level football, you can say that players are two-way. They need to be able to attack and defend. If you want to play 90 minutes as a winger for the Reds, you need to be able to do both offense and defense. I think Taka was in very good condition until he got injured. I think we were able to see his potential in the running shot in the Kashima match. Tomo also scored two goals before he got injured, so I think he also has the potential to score goals. I have a very good impression of Tomo. I think he is tactically and technically excellent as an inside midfielder, attacking midfielder, or winger. He is a player who can play while keeping the opponent off balance. I think he is a very clever player. With the loss of players who have always played such as Ken Iwao, Atsuki (Ito), Hiroki Sakai, and Alexander Scholz, I think Tomo and Taka should create a new routine for the team."
(The match against Kashima was a very good one, but we were unable to translate that into results. What areas do you need to work on? Are there any issues that remain?)
"Taka's chance in the first half. (Watanabe) Ryoma's three chances. I think the probability of scoring a goal in the last chance of the first half would have been higher if the first touch had been better. I think it can be said to be a great result if we can create five or six chances in a derby like the Kashima match, but we need the quality to finish off those chances. Also, (Ohata) Ayumu and (Hirokazu Ishihara) joined the front line more aggressively and increased the number of players in the penalty area, which I thought was very good. I could sense their potential."
(Kawasaki is also a team that likes to have possession of the ball, how does coach Mathias feel about that?)
"I think they are a very strong possession team. They are very good at handling the ball. They are also a team that scores goals from crosses. However, they also give away space to the opponent, so I think it is possible to use that to score. In the last away game we played them, we were able to launch attacks by using the space well in the first half. Conversely, we gave the opponent space in the second half, so I think we need to be conscious of space both offensively and defensively. And in games like this, team structure is of course important, but I also think one-on-one situations are very important. If we win one-on-ones in attack we can throw the opponent off balance, and if we lose one-on-ones in defense we will give the opponent an advantage."
(Was yesterday off to allow him to fully recover before the Kawasaki match?)
"It's about super-recovery and storing energy. The players looked very sharp in today's practice, so they've responded well to the off-season. And for the players who won't be playing in tomorrow's match, we've scheduled a training match with a university on Sunday. In this way, we've taken into consideration the workload of all members."
(Is giving time off a good thing for coaches, and is it something that needs improvement? What is your opinion on giving rest?)
"I think part of the manager's job is to look at the condition of the group. Of course, I also look at each individual player. There are various individual situations. Up until this week, it has been very hot, so we have been doing high-intensity training. I have been talking to the players and discussing with the staff about every aspect, including the physical and mental aspects. We had long discussions about whether to keep the team off and gather the players for light recovery training, or to just do tactical training, or to take a complete break, and we ultimately decided on this."
(The good reaction in today's training means that the players understood the coach's intentions and used the rest day as part of their training menu.)
"When you think about it comprehensively, rest is a very important factor. I think this is not just a problem for athletes, but for society as a whole. In modern society, even if you want to rest, there is so much information coming in that you have to learn how to block that out and rest yourself."
(The J-League summer transfer period has ended. What is your assessment of the Reds' summer reinforcements?)
"Although there were some transfers, such as Atsuki's, overall there were no big surprises. However, seven of the 11 regular players from last season have transferred. As I said before, this is also a chance for our new players to show what they can do. It is a good thing that our injured players are returning at this time, and I also think it is good that our newly acquired players are involved in the game. As a club, I think it is important to always prepare in advance how to supplement a player who has transferred."
(I think this was your first summer transfer period since coming to Japan, Coach Mathias. What did you think of the summer transfer movement in the league as a whole? I think there were a lot of players transferring to overseas clubs, so what was your overall impression?)
"I had heard that it was generally difficult to acquire Japanese players in summer transfers. But I took on the challenge. I think that going to Europe is an important event for the J.League, the Japan Football Association, the players, and their agents. Similar discussions were held in Norway in the late 1990s. Nearly 30 Norwegian players played in the Premier League (England). Then, in the 2000s and even more recently, a large number of young players have transferred from Scandinavia to all over Europe. However, there are many players who do not get a chance to play even after transferring. So I think that when it comes to player transfers, not only clubs but also the national team need to think carefully. I think it's important to discuss what kind of player each player is and what kind of club they should go to. For example, I served as the national team manager, and at the time I thought it would be better for as many players as possible to go to top clubs overseas. I also served as sports director for the Norwegian association, and at the time I wanted both the Norwegian national team and the clubs to achieve good results. I think that's also important in the J.League. First of all, it's necessary to create stable, strong clubs. But at the same time, I think it's also necessary to have the best players play in, for example, the Premier League or the Bundesliga (Germany). To achieve both of these things, I think national-level policies are necessary."
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
"Hello everyone. This week I was able to train with almost all of the players. There are some players who still need to improve physically. My request to the players is not to do a good job once or twice, but to keep doing a good job throughout the entire game. I also select the starters and bench members with that in mind. Yesterday we canceled practice and took a day off. The reason is that we conducted very high-intensity training on Tuesday and Wednesday. We conducted high-intensity training in very hot weather. Training in hot weather adds 20 percent to the load, so we took yesterday off to conserve our energy for the game. The next match is the last match of the summer holidays for the children, so I hope they will come to the stadium and enjoy themselves. I hope we can play a good game and deliver three points."
(In the previous match against Kashima Antlers, the players seemed more motivated than in the previous few matches. Did you notice any changes, Coach Matthias?)
"As I said before, instead of just doing the job once, twice or even three times, we are asking the players to keep doing it throughout the game, and this is what we are asking of them mentally and physically. Also, the condition of players returning from injury is improving. As injured players return, the competition within the team has intensified. I think the players fought with a very good attitude. However, this is an attitude that needs to be shown in every game, and we need to make sure that it doesn't fade at any moment during the game."
(At the last press conference, you mentioned that in the last three away games, you have only conceded one goal from a penalty kick. What is the main reason for your recent defensive stability?)
"Looking at our last seven games, we conceded two goals against Shonan Bellmare. We conceded four goals against (Hokkaido) Consadole (Sapporo), one towards the end of the first half and one early in the second half. In the other five games, we have only conceded one goal from a penalty kick. From a tactical standpoint, we have been emphasizing a 4-4-2 zone defense since the Nagoya match. We are also working on details in small groups or as a team as a whole in our daily training. I think we are definitely getting better. Another reason is that players like (Tomo) (Tomoaki Okubo) and (Takahiro Sekine), who have been active as wingers on both offense and defense since last year, have returned. So there is not just one reason for our improvement. There are areas where we have improved as a team, and I think that each player has improved in individual areas as well."
(In the match against Kashima, in a 4-4-2 block, I think you were more stable when you waited a little lower than the middle zone, but I think it would be good balance to revive the moment when you took the ball back the moment the attack ended, with the whole team in a higher position, as was probably the case in the first half of the season. I think there is a certain order, but what do you think about the team's future progress in that respect?)
"Exactly. We want to apply high pressure for as long as possible during a match, especially immediately after losing the ball. We also want to apply high pressure to take advantage of the opponent's goal kicks and low throw-ins. This is physically and tactically demanding, so it will take time to execute to a certain extent. I don't want to use this as an excuse, but we have had players transferred or injured, and we have had to change our lineup quite a bit. I think that this has caused us to lack stability in some areas. However, if we can firmly grasp the principle of the zone, I think it is possible to apply pressure at any height. As you said, we are currently sometimes moving out from a mid block or low block, but we are also working on taking a step back to move forward."
(Regarding the selection of wingers, I think the good thing about Okubo and Sekine is that they can return to where they need to be when the opponent has the ball, but on the other hand, I think there are many players who are destructive when they have the ball. I think there is an aspect where you need to encourage Okubo and Sekine to do better offensively, and an aspect where you need to get the offensively good players to defend better. Where do you think the balance is in that regard?)
"Exactly. I think that's an important analysis. Offensive players also need to be able to defend well, and when you look at international-level football, you can say that players are two-way. They need to be able to attack and defend. If you want to play 90 minutes as a winger for the Reds, you need to be able to do both offense and defense. I think Taka was in very good condition until he got injured. I think we were able to see his potential in the running shot in the Kashima match. Tomo also scored two goals before he got injured, so I think he also has the potential to score goals. I have a very good impression of Tomo. I think he is tactically and technically excellent as an inside midfielder, attacking midfielder, or winger. He is a player who can play while keeping the opponent off balance. I think he is a very clever player. With the loss of players who have always played such as Ken Iwao, Atsuki (Ito), Hiroki Sakai, and Alexander Scholz, I think Tomo and Taka should create a new routine for the team."
(The match against Kashima was a very good one, but we were unable to translate that into results. What areas do you need to work on? Are there any issues that remain?)
"Taka's chance in the first half. (Watanabe) Ryoma's three chances. I think the probability of scoring a goal in the last chance of the first half would have been higher if the first touch had been better. I think it can be said to be a great result if we can create five or six chances in a derby like the Kashima match, but we need the quality to finish off those chances. Also, (Ohata) Ayumu and (Hirokazu Ishihara) joined the front line more aggressively and increased the number of players in the penalty area, which I thought was very good. I could sense their potential."
(Kawasaki is also a team that likes to have possession of the ball, how does coach Mathias feel about that?)
"I think they are a very strong possession team. They are very good at handling the ball. They are also a team that scores goals from crosses. However, they also give away space to the opponent, so I think it is possible to use that to score. In the last away game we played them, we were able to launch attacks by using the space well in the first half. Conversely, we gave the opponent space in the second half, so I think we need to be conscious of space both offensively and defensively. And in games like this, team structure is of course important, but I also think one-on-one situations are very important. If we win one-on-ones in attack we can throw the opponent off balance, and if we lose one-on-ones in defense we will give the opponent an advantage."
(Was yesterday off to allow him to fully recover before the Kawasaki match?)
"It's about super-recovery and storing energy. The players looked very sharp in today's practice, so they've responded well to the off-season. And for the players who won't be playing in tomorrow's match, we've scheduled a training match with a university on Sunday. In this way, we've taken into consideration the workload of all members."
(Is giving time off a good thing for coaches, and is it something that needs improvement? What is your opinion on giving rest?)
"I think part of the manager's job is to look at the condition of the group. Of course, I also look at each individual player. There are various individual situations. Up until this week, it has been very hot, so we have been doing high-intensity training. I have been talking to the players and discussing with the staff about every aspect, including the physical and mental aspects. We had long discussions about whether to keep the team off and gather the players for light recovery training, or to just do tactical training, or to take a complete break, and we ultimately decided on this."
(The good reaction in today's training means that the players understood the coach's intentions and used the rest day as part of their training menu.)
"When you think about it comprehensively, rest is a very important factor. I think this is not just a problem for athletes, but for society as a whole. In modern society, even if you want to rest, there is so much information coming in that you have to learn how to block that out and rest yourself."
(The J-League summer transfer period has ended. What is your assessment of the Reds' summer reinforcements?)
"Although there were some transfers, such as Atsuki's, overall there were no big surprises. However, seven of the 11 regular players from last season have transferred. As I said before, this is also a chance for our new players to show what they can do. It is a good thing that our injured players are returning at this time, and I also think it is good that our newly acquired players are involved in the game. As a club, I think it is important to always prepare in advance how to supplement a player who has transferred."
(I think this was your first summer transfer period since coming to Japan, Coach Mathias. What did you think of the summer transfer movement in the league as a whole? I think there were a lot of players transferring to overseas clubs, so what was your overall impression?)
"I had heard that it was generally difficult to acquire Japanese players in summer transfers. But I took on the challenge. I think that going to Europe is an important event for the J.League, the Japan Football Association, the players, and their agents. Similar discussions were held in Norway in the late 1990s. Nearly 30 Norwegian players played in the Premier League (England). Then, in the 2000s and even more recently, a large number of young players have transferred from Scandinavia to all over Europe. However, there are many players who do not get a chance to play even after transferring. So I think that when it comes to player transfers, not only clubs but also the national team need to think carefully. I think it's important to discuss what kind of player each player is and what kind of club they should go to. For example, I served as the national team manager, and at the time I thought it would be better for as many players as possible to go to top clubs overseas. I also served as sports director for the Norwegian association, and at the time I wanted both the Norwegian national team and the clubs to achieve good results. I think that's also important in the J.League. First of all, it's necessary to create stable, strong clubs. But at the same time, I think it's also necessary to have the best players play in, for example, the Premier League or the Bundesliga (Germany). To achieve both of these things, I think national-level policies are necessary."
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
