NEWS
Sekine: "We need to improve our fighting, running and goal-keeping skills."
On the 31st, after the 29th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, Takahiro Sekine, who scored his first goal of the season in the match against FC Machida Zelvia, looked back on the day's match and spoke about what the team needs to do to improve in the future.
"In the second half, the opponents also played with three players at the back, and their tactics changed between the first and second halves. The players in the middle needed to sense that and respond more flexibly. We were playing in their favor for most of the game, so I felt like we struggled a lot there."
How were you planning to steal the ball from your opponent?
"We were trying to steal the ball, but it was basically a long ball, so the question was how to recover the second ball. Rather than attacking from the front, we were conscious of forming a solid 4-4-2 block to pick up the ball that was kicked out."
Did you score your first goal of the season?
"That was a strategy to counter Machida, and it went just as we analyzed. They were coming at me man-to-man, so I had practiced coming in late from the second row, and it went in beautifully."
I guess that was a difficult shot?
"I'm surprised it went in. (Before the shot) I had a look on my face that said, 'It's not going to go in' (laugh)."
(You seemed a little embarrassed after scoring the goal?)
"No, there's nothing to be particularly happy about, since I only scored one point. But I was extremely happy."
(I think you are the player on the team who has the most feelings for interim manager Nobuyasu Ikeda.)
"Yes, I had decided that if I scored a goal I would go to Nobu-san (interim manager Nobuyasu Ikeda). I was excited, and he told me, 'Calm down, there's still some points left, so I'm counting on you.'"
How do you feel about this draw?
"This result occurred because something was missing in this first step, so I think it will be very important from now on how each individual expresses this with a sense of responsibility, how they embody it. The coach will change, and I think the tactics will also change, but I felt that unless we can build on the fundamentals of soccer, the way we fight, the way we run, and in today's terms, the way we are determined to protect our goal, we may never reach that first step, and we may never become a strong team."
(We had a goal cancelled when we were within reach of victory and conceded a run in the last play, but should we just chalk it up to bad luck?)
"Yes, it's really the small details, isn't it? Even if the goal was cancelled, was that kind of play really necessary there? I'm not blaming anyone, though. And when we lost the challenge at the end and were penetrated on the side and couldn't get back, unless each individual points the finger at themselves and thinks about it without blaming others, we won't be able to take concrete measures, and in order to become a really strong group as a team, we need to continue to focus on that, otherwise we'll stay in this position. We're aiming to get into the ACL (AFC Champions League) zone, and we're a group that is aiming to win the J.League, so I think we really need to focus on that, point the finger at ourselves, and bring that feeling to the forefront if we're fighting for Urawa Reds. I think there's definitely something that can't be easily put into words, so I think that's important."
What about the change in director?
"To be honest, I was surprised at the timing of the change."
(Wouldn't it be an advantage to have a manager you already know take over?)
"Many of the players I played with are no longer with us, so I think it's very important for the players who were there to act as bridges, so I hope that the players who were there (when Coach Maciej was with the team) can act as bridges and smoothly build the team so that the new players can fit in quickly."
(This past week of preparation must have been very irregular, but what was the most important thing for you to do during that time?)
"I think it's about not making excuses. The match will come no matter what the circumstances, and there are fans and supporters who are cheering for us with all their might. For those people, I have been preparing this week without making excuses, with the thought of doing everything I can and the tasks that have been entrusted to me."
Further comments and match photos can be viewed by site members.
■ Site Membership (330 yen/month/tax included) is here → https://sp.urawa-reds.co.jp/
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[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
"In the second half, the opponents also played with three players at the back, and their tactics changed between the first and second halves. The players in the middle needed to sense that and respond more flexibly. We were playing in their favor for most of the game, so I felt like we struggled a lot there."
How were you planning to steal the ball from your opponent?
"We were trying to steal the ball, but it was basically a long ball, so the question was how to recover the second ball. Rather than attacking from the front, we were conscious of forming a solid 4-4-2 block to pick up the ball that was kicked out."
Did you score your first goal of the season?
"That was a strategy to counter Machida, and it went just as we analyzed. They were coming at me man-to-man, so I had practiced coming in late from the second row, and it went in beautifully."
I guess that was a difficult shot?
"I'm surprised it went in. (Before the shot) I had a look on my face that said, 'It's not going to go in' (laugh)."
(You seemed a little embarrassed after scoring the goal?)
"No, there's nothing to be particularly happy about, since I only scored one point. But I was extremely happy."
(I think you are the player on the team who has the most feelings for interim manager Nobuyasu Ikeda.)
"Yes, I had decided that if I scored a goal I would go to Nobu-san (interim manager Nobuyasu Ikeda). I was excited, and he told me, 'Calm down, there's still some points left, so I'm counting on you.'"
How do you feel about this draw?
"This result occurred because something was missing in this first step, so I think it will be very important from now on how each individual expresses this with a sense of responsibility, how they embody it. The coach will change, and I think the tactics will also change, but I felt that unless we can build on the fundamentals of soccer, the way we fight, the way we run, and in today's terms, the way we are determined to protect our goal, we may never reach that first step, and we may never become a strong team."
(We had a goal cancelled when we were within reach of victory and conceded a run in the last play, but should we just chalk it up to bad luck?)
"Yes, it's really the small details, isn't it? Even if the goal was cancelled, was that kind of play really necessary there? I'm not blaming anyone, though. And when we lost the challenge at the end and were penetrated on the side and couldn't get back, unless each individual points the finger at themselves and thinks about it without blaming others, we won't be able to take concrete measures, and in order to become a really strong group as a team, we need to continue to focus on that, otherwise we'll stay in this position. We're aiming to get into the ACL (AFC Champions League) zone, and we're a group that is aiming to win the J.League, so I think we really need to focus on that, point the finger at ourselves, and bring that feeling to the forefront if we're fighting for Urawa Reds. I think there's definitely something that can't be easily put into words, so I think that's important."
What about the change in director?
"To be honest, I was surprised at the timing of the change."
(Wouldn't it be an advantage to have a manager you already know take over?)
"Many of the players I played with are no longer with us, so I think it's very important for the players who were there to act as bridges, so I hope that the players who were there (when Coach Maciej was with the team) can act as bridges and smoothly build the team so that the new players can fit in quickly."
(This past week of preparation must have been very irregular, but what was the most important thing for you to do during that time?)
"I think it's about not making excuses. The match will come no matter what the circumstances, and there are fans and supporters who are cheering for us with all their might. For those people, I have been preparing this week without making excuses, with the thought of doing everything I can and the tasks that have been entrusted to me."
Further comments and match photos can be viewed by site members.
■ Site Membership (330 yen/month/tax included) is here → https://sp.urawa-reds.co.jp/
*REX CLUB LOYALTY members can use the service free of charge.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
