Q, please reflect on the camp so far.
A, with young players and new recruits coming in, the competition has become intense. Compared to the same period last season, I think we have been able to continue what we have been doing for a year, so we are in a very good atmosphere.
Q: Do you feel any improvement from last season?
A, the path we should take became clear in the past season. In order to improve our accuracy and achieve better results, I believe we need to increase the variety of our attacks. Therefore, we are focusing on that aspect during our training camp.
Q, I think the competition for the center back position is intense. Please tell us about your thoughts and aspirations for this season.
I don't think the number of appearances in the previous season matters. I have been approaching each year as a challenge since I turned professional, so I want to make a strong impression in this camp for the entire season. This season, there are particularly high-level players, so I want to prepare myself so that anyone can play and create a higher level of competition that makes the coach struggle with who to use in a good way.
Q: Do you feel the intensity of the position battle?
A, I also think that the surrounding players are playing really well, so I can't afford to lose.
Q: Please tell us your personal goals and team goals for this season.
The goal is to be involved in every game without injury for one year. As a team, of course, there is the goal of winning the league, but as the coach says, we want to win each game in front of us, one game at a time.
Q: There was talk about increasing the variety of attacks, but as a defender, is there anything necessary?
A, we want to not only create chances with one pass from our own side, but also supply passes that can relieve the opponent's pressure without losing the ball at the back. I think we need to be more conscious of supplying good balls to the midfield and forward players while circulating the ball firmly, more than last season.
Q: Is there anything that Kimoto player is conscious of in terms of livening up the atmosphere of practice?
A, I am not consciously aware of it, but because I am on the older side in terms of age, I think I need to raise my voice more to liven things up.
＜Ryoma WATANABE＞
Q: I see many scenes of you running with player Morishige after practice this year. What are you talking about?
A, the content of the conversation is mainly about private matters and not much about football.
Q, Are you discussing tactics and other soccer topics with players who have been with the team since last season, other than in meetings? A, (Including practice games) Since the members are not fixed, we have not had any tactical conversations yet.
Q, The players are playing the game without being fixed, but there are many scenes where they enter dangerous areas. Are they still focusing on scoring? A, I think the parts that directly lead to scoring, such as how to cross and how to break through the back, will become more important.
Q, Do you communicate your techniques to other players who have been playing in games since last season, such as how to switch with the opposing DF? A, I don't think I'm in a position to teach others, and I believe that everyone has their own way of scoring. However, I do talk to young players who have just graduated high school or college about positioning and ways of thinking, rather than just scoring.
Q, What are you currently focusing on personally? A, I want to make more plays that directly lead to goals. I believe my strength is being able to use my teammates, but in order to become a scary player, I want to expand my shooting range and always aim for the final pass. I want to be conscious of the parts that directly contribute to scoring.
Q, Tomorrow will be the first match of the season against FC Ryukyu, who belongs to the J-League. Will you be conscious of that? A, Yes, I will. However, minimizing mistakes is my biggest strength, so if I lose that, it becomes a story before the challenge. So, I think it will be difficult to adjust, but I want to continue playing while keeping my strengths.
Q, There was a mention of being conscious of plays that lead to points, but is that also something that the coach is asking for? A, It's not that the coach is asking for it. Looking back at the individual results of last season, I felt that we couldn't aim for league victory or high goals without scoring more goals. (Soccer is) a sport where you score, so even if you can pass the ball around, you can't win. It's a personal decision to want more goals.
Q, Did you think that you needed plays that directly lead to points when looking back on the off-season? A, It was something I had been thinking about for a while. This season, I was able to play in my preferred position from the beginning, so I think it's the perfect timing. When I seriously thought about wanting to achieve results, I believe this season will be the most important year.
Q, Please tell us the team's goal and individual goal. A, As a team, we aim to win the league. Personally, I want to score 10 goals.
Q, What changes have there been in the 2022 and 2023 seasons as a team? A, Of course, the base of last season, but I think that the awareness of scoring goals has increased for all players, such as plays that lead directly to goals. It is important to value the ball, not just connect it, but also to not miss players who move to score, and to prioritize the criteria for judging whether to pass the ball to the front line.
Q, Kimoto player also said that he has become able to turn the ball well up to the penalty area, but I think that the breakdown after that will be important, but is there any personal keyword for Watanabe player in terms of creativity and attack? A, I think that it is important to synchronize the breath between individuals in order to score more goals than last season. It's obvious, but I think it's important not only for the person who passes the ball, but also for the person who receives the pass to watch the opponent and start moving.
