[Player Comments]
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q, how is your condition throughout the game on the 9th day of camp?
A, there were many new players joining, and it was a new start for the team, but we can already see the team taking shape and the level of completion is high even through practice matches. I feel that we have grown compared to this time last year.
Q, Where do you feel you are growing the most?
A, I think we are now able to work on the next level thanks to the team's shared awareness of the tempo of passing the ball and the smoothness of advancing the ball.
Q, I think you were actively involved in the attack during the game.
A, As a challenge from last season, there were assists from the side back's offensive participation, so this year we are talking with players in the same position to improve on that and be able to break down the side by having the side back participate more in the attack. I think the team's score will increase. So, during the camp, we were conscious of being offensive and went forward more and more.
Q, What were you able to do and what are the improvement points in a game where the opponent is pulling back?
A, the J-League will kick off in 1 month, and I think there will be opponents who will come to challenge us. We couldn't break through this time, but I think we were able to play against the opponent and push them back to a deep position, so if we can improve the quality of our final combinations during this camp, I think we will be able to break through against opponents who come to challenge us, and we will be able to embody the style of soccer that the coach is looking for.
Q, What did you focus on while playing, considering that the competition for the side back position will be fierce this season?
In Tokyo, there are top-class fullbacks gathered in J1. I think that if I can win the starting position in Tokyo, I can become a member of the Japan national team, so there are many players who can be role models right in front of me, especially CACA, who has experience in the Qatar World Cup. I think it's amazing to be able to play together with such a great player. However, that doesn't mean I'm going to lose, and I want to challenge myself and win the starting position this season and become an absolute presence in the team.
Q, What goals do you have for this camp?
First of all, I want to take the starting lineup within the team and play the good soccer we want from the opening. In order to do that, I want everyone to understand their own play, and since many issues were found last season, I want to make the preparation period so that we can work on the issues and have a good start as a team and as individuals from the opening.
<Yuta ARAI>
Q, What were you thinking when you received the ball on the side?
A, In today's match, I was able to communicate well with the side back player and play while asking and telling where to position myself. Basically, I played more on the side, but I was able to have a good connection throughout the match, so I want to continue doing that in the future. As an individual, I was conscious of making plays when I had the ball. I want to improve the quality even more.
Q, were you able to put what you have built up in this camp into the game?
A, I have been practicing together since last season, so I think I understand the tactical aspect. It's just a matter of putting it into the game.
Q, What were the areas where the team did not perform well during the match?
A, we practiced expanding to the opposite side while connecting finely, but I think we need to focus on practicing more in order to be able to do it in the game.
Q, I think we were pushing the opponent quite a bit. It's just the final finishing touch, I guess.
A, I want to score points and also assist in every game. My personal challenge is that I lack the ability to finish goals, so I hope to focus on each ball in practice and improve my finishing ability.
Q, What do you want to do for the next game?
A, I hope to improve on the challenge of taking it all the way to the finish and finishing it off in the next game, and contribute to the team with goals and assists.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q, please look back on today's game.
A, There were times when things didn't go well today while talking about various things, but we were able to make adjustments and play the game in a good way, and it was good that we were able to communicate during that time.
Q, Are you able to communicate more actively during the ongoing camp?
As a new addition to the team and in my second year, we need to improve our attacking power as a team. Personally, I am also aiming for more goals and assists, so I am actively communicating with my teammates.
Q, although we are able to connect the ball from behind, I think it is necessary to improve our final attacking play in order to compete at the top level this year.
A, there are various scoring scenes including the game, but I think it is important to continue working on entering dangerous areas and creating numerical advantages on the side, which are the challenges we are currently facing. I want to level up through the camp.
Q, it's always a good thing to be able to score against any opponent.
A, Even if there are more practice matches in the future, we must be able to play our own soccer like we did today, no matter what team we face. I think the schedule will be tight this season as well, so I want us all to have a good camp and prepare for it.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q: Please reflect on the good goal.
A, Personally, I think the course was too easy, but I was able to shoot as I imagined, so I think that was a good part.
Q, There are players in Tokyo who can hold the ball and dribble, but I think there are few players who can break through the back.
A, I hope that even if my characteristics match Tokyo even a little, I can break through not only by running behind the defense but also by dribbling and breaking through. It is also important for this team to be able to break through the defense, so I think it is very important. If we know the characteristics of the players and communicate well within that, I think we can become even stronger. I think we can create various tactics and formations. If we do that, I think it will be difficult for the opponent to catch us, so I want to increase the variations.
Q, do you sometimes not come out when you want the ball?
A, there are still things that haven't come out yet. It's important to work together and communicate while practicing, and I think we'll be able to work together if we keep building on that. Even if we get offside in the game, I think it's most important to keep challenging.
Q, Is it better to decide on a shape or to play with freedom when it comes to breaking through in the attacking third?
A, I think it's a bit of both. I think it's easier to play when you have a certain shape, but if you focus too much on that, you'll end up being limited to just that. So I think it's important to have some flexibility and be able to use combinations and break down the opponent. We have a lot of players who can do that, and I think that's the kind of team we are, so it's good to use both in order to win.
Q, there will be a practice match in 3 days.
A, I think it is important to improve as a team even in the condition part. Personally, I have been able to score in the last two games and have been able to participate in the camp in a good shape, so I think it will not be easy to score if we do not make mistakes in the small details when playing against teams in the J-League. However, I feel that we have been able to adjust well in terms of one week of activities.
