On the 21st, manager Maciej Skorza held an online press conference where he spoke about his enthusiasm for the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 25 match against Kashiwa Reysol which will be held at Saitama Stadium on Wednesday, October 23rd [Meiji Yasuda vs J.League Partnership 10th Anniversary Match].

(On the 23rd, they will face Kashiwa, who has the same number of points as them. What is the players' mindset right now?)
"We expect and want to do better than we did in the previous match. We will next face a team that is in a similar situation to us, but I want to make it a match where our players are eager to run and fight to win, and show their desire to change this situation."

(After the previous match, Shusaku Nishikawa and Haraguchi Genki received the supporters' thoughts. I think the players are using Maciej 's words every day to implement tactics and raise their motivation, but what kind of words does Coach Maciej himself receive from Head of Football Jun Tokari and Sports Director Satoshi Horinouchi after the match against Tokyo Verdy?)
"I don't like to talk about internal club matters in public, but I can say that we are all united as a club and are looking for a way to overcome this difficult situation."

(The Reds have changed their manager and players since the away game against Kashiwa, but what did you think after watching the video to understand the strategy of the opposing manager, Masami Ihara?)
"I think Kashiwa's 4-4-2 is a style that has been thoroughly trained down to the smallest detail. It's an interesting style that makes the most of the attacking full-backs and allows players like Matheus Savio to show off their skills in the half-spaces, allowing them to fully demonstrate their abilities."

(We continue to concede goals from set pieces. I think you took measures to address this during the break, but why do you think there is no improvement?)
"During the international match week, I spoke a lot with the staff about set pieces. We changed our approach a little and have been training for the past two weeks. However, there were some areas where things did not go well. I think we conceded two goals from set pieces in the last match. I think the reason we conceded goals for the free kicks was because we didn't set up early enough. I think there were nine defensive corner kicks in the last match. On one of them, a player made a mistake in judgment. I don't think our defensive system was bad, but rather it was an individual error of judgment. So I want to make sure that each player stays focused during set piece training."

(I don't think it's possible to make dramatic changes in just a few days, but perhaps things will change depending on the players' mindset.)
"First of all, as a manager, I am thinking about which 11 players to use. First of all, we need to start with a good set-up and good 11 players. We will prepare while thinking about our performance in the previous match, the fatigue from that, and our opponent, Kashiwa."

(Regarding the relationship between the players' mentality and their actual play, when I listen to the players, I sense that they want to do something about the situation and are determined. However, I wonder whether that desire and determination is effectively expressed on the pitch. For example, if they are too determined to do their best, they may go as far as they need to. What are your thoughts on helping them sort out their mindset and organize their play?)
"In sports, being overmotivated can sometimes lead to dangerous situations. However, we are at a big club like Urawa Reds. I think it is normal for us to be under a lot of pressure when we play and behave. I have spoken about this with the players before, and looking at them, I think they are well aware of the current situation and are able to stay focused. We will be playing under a lot of pressure for the rest of the season, but I think we need to be able to manage it well."

(What kind of player is a good defensive midfielder for you, Coach Maciej? What is the most important thing you cannot compromise on when using him in a match?)
"If you ask me what my definition of a defensive midfielder is, it's Manchester City's Rodri. I think the ability has to be a mix. A good defensive midfielder has to have good skills, speed and be able to defend."

(I think you said this at the regular press conference before the match against Tokyo Verdy, but depending on the situation the players can't come up with ideas, and when the situation isn't good they end up playing with a lack of confidence. If that's the case, how do you as the manager try to help the players gain confidence and bring out their innate abilities? For example, do you help them gain small successes, or do you take a special approach in training? How do you want to help them regain their confidence?
"I think that successful experiences are certainly an important factor. First of all, I think it's important to focus only on the next step. I think it's necessary to push bad thoughts out of your head and clear your mind. Right now, I think it's important to prepare for the Kashiwa match and think only about that match."

While you were good at defending set pieces, your defense in the penalty area seemed to have improved. What do you think?
"After two weeks of preparation, I think the match against Tokyo Verdy was a game in which we didn't see the play we were hoping for. I don't think we could say that we played well overall. Defensively, for example, we created some dangerous situations, such as hitting the crossbar in the sixth minute. I don't think we achieved the balance between offense and defense that we were hoping for. However, we could have prevented conceding goals. For example, if we had set up earlier, or if we had reacted better. Because we didn't concede any goals from open play, I don't think you can say that everything about our defense was bad. But right now, the most important thing is the result, and we could say that the result was disastrous."

(How is the condition of the injured players?)
"The only injured player is Hiroki Abe. (Koizumi) Kaho is also training with the team today, and I think everyone else is in good condition."

(What kind of attitude does Coach Maciej expect from his players in these difficult times?)
"What I expect from the players, and from everyone at the club, is to be in fighting mode, to just fight."

(You mentioned the mental aspect of the game, but there is something I think about when I see players trying too hard and it ends up hurting them. For example, in the 15th minute of the match against Tokyo Verdy, when Hirokazu Ishihara was avoiding pressure by going to the inside, Haraguchi Genki came over. I feel that there are many plays where players get too close or drop too far back to help their teammates. What do you think about the players' sense of distance?)
"I think it's important to have a balance between motivation and relaxation. We need to avoid being mentally restricted and unable to move freely. I'm always reminding the players of their wealth of experience and high ability. It may be tough now, but we need to remember what we're capable of. We still have a lot of talented players in the locker room, so I want to make full use of that and fight."

(They started with a set defense and have now come back strong, but their pressing has not been going well and they are spending more time on the defensive. I think the manager also wants to play a high press, but what do you think are the areas where they need to press a little harder?)
"It's true that our press wasn't very effective in the previous game. We discussed it at halftime and tried to improve it. However, the problem wasn't the high-pressure system, but the midfield and defensive line being too open, which meant we couldn't keep the team compact. This is one of the most basic things when it comes to applying high pressure, so we need to improve that."

(I think that the game, including the match against Tokyo Verdy, has been a series of matches where it has been difficult to make progress. I think that you have tried to turn things around during the break, but what is not going well? What areas do you want to improve in preparation for the next match against Kashiwa?)
"There are a number of reasons why our build-up did not go well in the match against Tokyo Verdy. By positioning players in the half-space, we aimed to draw one or two players out of the opponent's five-man defensive line. The aim was for Matsuo Yusuke, who played as a striker in this match, to use the gap that was created by drawing them out. Our playing speed was not fast enough, so even if we tried to use that space, there was no distribution from midfield and we had no choice but to kick from the defensive line, which made it easy for the opponents to stop. Long balls from the defensive line were also part of our tactics, and we wanted to draw out the opposing centre-backs and use long balls. Ryoma Watanabe aimed for that, and Yusuke then recovered the ball, which led to a goal. I think that kind of gegenpressing is also important.

(You mentioned that a balance between motivation and relaxation is necessary, but how do you plan to approach the players? For example, will you emphasize that the next match against Kashiwa is a big one? Or will you take it a little easier?)
"I think everyone understands the importance of this match without me having to say it. What I am doing now is to create an environment where the players can perform at their best. I also give simple instructions. I want all the players to understand these simple instructions and then perform to their full potential."

(The seasons have changed since Maciej took over as manager, but one hypothesis is that Urawa Reds' current condition is due to summer fatigue. I think the manager himself has said that one of his mistakes last year was that he conducted high-intensity training in the summer, but the fact is that before Maciej took over, high-intensity training was conducted during the day, when even we Japanese find the heat extremely severe. This is not to deny or approve of his predecessor, but looking at it objectively, it seems to me that physical fatigue is subtly linked to mental fatigue. That is summer fatigue, but have you ever felt that way?)
"I haven't noticed any of those problems since coming to Japan. I've spoken with the medical staff and coaching staff and have been working on how to improve the players' condition. For example, when it's hot, we use four-day preparations. Now that the temperature is dropping, we've changed that to five-day preparations. We always control the intensity and workload to suit the players and the environment. Even so, there have been games where the players were not in good physical condition."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]