On the 31st, after the 20th day of training at the Okinawa training camp, coach Maciej Skorza held a press conference and answered questions from the media.

(How satisfied are you with the results of the training camp and the integration of the new players?)
"We are in very good condition. We are playing in a good atmosphere. It has been about three weeks since I came to training camp, and we have been doing high-intensity, high-load training. The hard work both on and off the pitch, and the team atmosphere are at an extremely high level. I would say that we are in better condition than we were two years ago, but the real test of that will be when official matches start. The adaptation process for the new players is also going very smoothly. I think that this is thanks in part to the help of the existing players."

(I think that these three weeks have strengthened the bond between small groups of two or three people, but how do you want to spend your time at Ohara Training Ground in the two weeks leading up to the opening?)
"So far, we have been giving the players the basics and the main rules and have been training them. After the training camp is over, we would like to go into the details. Also, we have three difficult away games in a row to start the season, so we want to prepare thoroughly for those."

(When you became manager of the Reds two years ago, the AFC Champions League final was looming. Last season, you took over midway through the season when the team was in a difficult situation. This season, you were able to start training camp on a level playing field, but how much of what you wanted to convey were you able to convey?)
"In some ways, that's true, and in other ways, it's not. It's similar to the situation two years ago. We have a lot of new players, so the team has changed a lot. Some players, such as Matsuo (Yusuke) and Okubo Tomo (Tomoaki), have not yet returned from injury. I think the competition has become fierce in almost every position. With players having skills and each having their own ego, I think it will be important to manage the team so that everyone is facing in the same direction. However, each player must act based on what the team needs, rather than putting their ego first. I think things are going in a very good direction for now. We won't know the answer until the league actually starts, but for now, I think the situation is good. The players are aware that this team is not yet complete, and there are still many areas that need to be corrected on both offense and defense."

(It looked like you spent a lot of time working on your offense, but based on last year's performance, what improvements did you want your players to make during training camp?)
"There are various forms of build-up, but I emphasize playing while maintaining each structure and form. Also, right now I am observing the new players while training, because there will be aspects that need to be adapted to each player's ability. For example, what kind of player habits does (Kaneko) Takuro have? I would like to do this in particular to create a better environment for the new players. New players like (Matheus) Savio, (Matsumoto) Yasushi, and Takuro, who are candidates for the starting line-up, have a good understanding of their roles on both offense and defense, so we have created a good situation. And even in training matches, I feel like we are making progress with each play."

(It may have been a word you used two years ago, but I think you used the word "cooperation" during this training camp. What was the meaning behind it?)
"First of all, there is the word 'cooperation,' which means collaboration, coordination, linkage, or cooperation, and I don't think you can play soccer without it. For example, in attack you need flexibility that matches each player's ability, but in defense you're not defending man-to-man, so I think players need to cooperate with each other to defend firmly, and in attack you need to allow freedom while still maintaining structure and form. Cooperation for that is necessary."

(At this point, do you feel that you can improve your offense and score more points than you did last year?)
"First of all, I would like to improve our scoring ability. Last season we were not so good. We scored few goals. That is an area we need to improve. It is necessary to maintain structure, but even while maintaining that structure, players can switch positions as they play. As we help the players understand how to play in this way, I think there will be a big change from last season to this season. Not only do the new players have skills, but I also think the team as a whole has better coordination."

(Last year, many of the players who played leadership roles under Coach Maciej left the team one by one. I think that was one of the reasons why the second half of the season was difficult, but have you found a player who can become the core of the team this season?)
"That's an interesting question. I think the mentality will be key again this season. I think there were problems there in the dressing room last year. But it was a difficult period, fighting to avoid relegation, and some players showed leadership. I want those players to continue, and I'm also looking at the new players to see if they have the ability to be leaders. I want to form a captaincy group with players who have that. We need time to assess the new players, so we're trying to delay the decision on the captains as much as possible for now."

(When you came here two years ago, you said, "If you tell Japanese players to come 15 minutes early, they'll come 15 minutes early, or 30 minutes early." Now that you understand the characteristics of Japanese players, are there any improvements you've made, or are there any things you think you need to be more careful about when coaching in Europe?)
"Considering the nature and character of the Japanese people, I don't set many rules in Japan. (The Japanese people) are very professional. There have been no disciplinary problems off the pitch at all."

(What do you have to be careful about because of these characteristics? People often say that you lack Maciej and the desire to do things on your own, but is this something you've noticed yourself?)
"Of course I try to approach those kinds of things, but it's not just because I'm Japanese. I want each player to play responsibly no matter which team they go to. My interaction with the players is more like a conversation than an instruction. I want them to feel that they are part of the ideas for playing, the coordination and cooperation. That way we become one, and I think the players will act responsibly. I think that will allow them to perform well, especially in difficult times. This method worked well two years ago, so I think it will work the same way this year with the new group."

(In Japan, the defense is often heavily man-to-man, so it may be a style of defense that suits Japanese players, but what are the advantages of zone defense and why do you use it?)
"I've never played man-to-man. I always play zone defense. Depending on the opponent, I might mix it up. When you play man-to-man, one mistake can be fatal. Zone defense allows for more organized defense. There are also good things about man-to-man. For example, in today's training, the white team played man-to-man, which made it difficult for the red team to play. I need to improve my play against man-to-man defense, but I personally prefer zone defense."

(How would you like to build your work with Seigo Ikeda, who has been appointed high performance coordinator?)
"He has a wealth of experience and knowledge. During the training camp, I received a lot of important advice from Seigo. I'm very happy that he has come to the Reds. Thinking about the staff, I feel very lucky. They are all very professional, and I feel that we are all working together as one, pulling in the same direction."

(What are the goals for the season? For example, will you divide the season into three parts and set goals such as how many points or points you need to achieve by this turn? Do you impose these goals on the players to motivate them?)
"I've been very motivated since the first day of preparation, so I don't think I need to raise my motivation. I've been saying this since I came here two years ago, but I have a dream of winning the J.League. This is my second chance, but I think everyone feels the same way. I think it's a long and tough season. And there is one very important tournament in the middle. I also want to set my objectives and goals in detail, and now I'm trying to find the strongest group. In order to win a game, we need not only the starters but also the power of the subs. I think the performance of the subs in the second half is very important. In some cases, I think that a player who seems to be the strongest in theory will be subbed. We may also put such a player on the bench for the second half. It's not a new way of doing things. It was the same last year. My goal now is to find the strongest group. And that's the setup. After we play a few more games, I think the feedback from those games will tell us which direction we should go in and what we need to improve."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]