Post-match comments from the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 35 match Yokohama F･Marinos

"It was a game that took place at various times. I think our team also had two different periods of opportunity. For example, there were periods when we controlled the game, kept the ball, made side changes and used the space well, like the chance that Bryan Linssen had in added time in the first half. Yokohama F･Marinos were also a very dangerous team and created chances.

From a tactical perspective, we didn't do a very good job of what we were trying to do. For example, when the opponent passed the ball to the goalkeeper in a high press, we didn't press effectively enough. However, we knew that F.Marinos had a very strong attacking force, and we expected that there would be difficult times. Marius Hoibraten was unable to play today against the strong Anderson Lopes and Jan Matthäus, but I think Rikito Inoue and Yota Sato did a very good job. In the second half, when Thiago (Santana) pushed the ball in, it was offside by just a few centimeters.

We went into the match wanting to deliver our first victory at Nissan Stadium in six years to our fans and supporters, so of course we're not happy about the draw. However, comparing today's match with our last away game against Tokyo Verdy, we can be satisfied with the content. I think the players did their best. However, our opponent was very strong and we couldn't win.

There are 11 days until our next match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. We all know how difficult this match will be. We want to prepare as well as possible for it."

[Question and Answer Session]
(There were a lot of long balls until the middle of the first half. Was that intentional?)
"One of our aims was to exploit the space behind the opponents. As was the case when (Watanabe) Ryoma was offside, I don't think we relied solely on long balls. That was one of our aims, but we didn't do it every time, and in the match against Kashiwa Reysol, we were a bit more careful with passes through the gaps."

(You seemed unsure about your options when making substitutions in the second half. What was you thinking?)
"In terms of substitutions, today was a very difficult game. Some of our players had cramps in the last 20 minutes. Because of that, we had to wait a little while to make a substitution. Both full-backs had cramps in their legs, so rather than gamble on who to substitute, we decided to wait and see how things went. Samuel (Gustavsson) also had cramps, so we waited and assessed whether he would be able to play the full 90 minutes."

(At a recent press conference you said you were thinking about when to open it up, but how did you make that decision?)
"I think there were times when we pressed hard and kept the ball for long periods, but that was what we were aiming for at the start and at the end. Of course, I don't think you can predict everything and execute 100% according to your plan, but I think the players worked really hard today. I think the one point we got as a result reflects the content of the game."

(What do you think is most important for Urawa Reds to not be in this position at this time next year?)
"It's too early to answer that question. Right now we are 100 percent focused on the current situation. We still need to be careful about our league position this season and we will approach the remaining four games as if they were four finals."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]